I selected this book because I found myself stuck in an unwanted transition. I thought that this would be a book about balancing business and personal life book. That is not wrong, but it's incomplete. I was not familiar with the author, Emily P. Freeman or her podcast, So I came to that conclusion based on the Amazon description.
I like the metaphor that she is using, that our lives are buildings with different rooms. I thought she did a good job of talking about the layout, the importance of the hall, and how to know if it's time to stay or leave. What I didn't expect, even with the title spiritual director, was the Christian ties and influence in the book. I don't mind that personally, but I think many people will not be expecting it and maybe offended if they are not Christian.

I don't know how many people outside of Christian circles are familiar with what a spiritual director does. That is where I think they have done themselves up disservice in the book packaging and marketing. Spiritual direction is a wonderful topic to talk about when it comes to making life changes. I would have liked the copy to focus on what I think the author does best, spiritual direction and coaching. She goes a little long in parts, but I suspect that's the way she does her coaching. Having studied with some spiritual directors, being with them is like being wrapped up in a warm hug of advice and direction.

Because of the absence of spiritual direction on the title, subtitle, and copy for people like me who are unfamiliar with her work, I knocked off one star. As the second focus of the book, that needs to be pointed out more in the copy, or you will alienate some of your readers.

I hate to be so negative, but I really hate the cover. Harper Collins lost an opportunity to put rooms or blueprints or something on the cover, anything that was relevant to the book. I know this cover style is popular, but it's just boring.

I am also not a fan of the title. This book is just as much about entering, waiting, contemplating, etc. as it is leaving.
Once again, I felt led astray by the title and blurb, I deduced it was a business book. A book about coming into a room with full confidence, what I wanted going into my next room.

I do recommend people who are interested in spirituality and you are going through transition periods to read this book. They will get help they need and the considerations they need to bring into their decision making, when they're contemplating walking into or out of a room. Please consider changing the advertising and marketing for this book to reflect Ms Freeman's amazing, spiritual direction talents.

I received an advance copy for review purposes. This review is my honest opinion. I thank NetGalley for the chance to read this book. If you're stuck and would like to do the work too and figure out your next move and have more confidence and going into a different direction and a different room, you should read this book.

Let me begin by saying I'm a long-time admirer of EPF and her work. I enjoy the concept of finding your next right thing, as she calls it, and this book is meant to take this topic a layer deeper. However, the "room" analogy really didn't work for me. It felt forced, clunky, and quite odd. I remember hearing the title for the first time and being confused—and I could never shake that confusion throughout the book. It also lacked scripture and theological reasoning, which I expected more of with her growing work as a spiritual director.

The one part of the book I liked was her chapter on Arrows and Answers, where she vulnerable shares her family's journey in deciding to leave their church. I wish there were more stories like this instead of returning to the odd analogy. I'm so bummed this fell flat for me. I'll still enjoy her podcast!

This is the first book I have read by this author. I will say that I was intrigued by the title alone but I did have some trouble keeping my attention on the book. The premise of the book and the real-life stories told by the author helped to keep my attention.

Disclosure: I received this book free via NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

I read this book in two days I was so fascinated and relieved as I read it. I have integrated "point and call" into every part of my life. Just being able to explore and name where I am to maybe where I am going (and all the conflicting feelings that come with it) gave me such a relief.

As a fan of Emily's writing and online community, her latest book, How to Walk into a Room, is a book that I will add to my library and grab during seasons of transition and even grief when I need some comforting and/or challenging words about entering or leaving a room.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperOne for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is wonderful. The title makes it sound like it’s for new beginnings (which is definitely part of it) but it is also about the process of leaving, changing, and grieving. The author has specific questions to ask yourself in all stages of leaving/entering new “rooms”. It was just so good. I think this will be a book I come back to regularly, especially during transitions.

How to Walk into a Room by Emily P. Freeman was a beautiful way to walk into the new year. I have read all of Emily's book and loved them all—including this one. Though I did have a hard time getting into this book. One reason is there were no rooms in my life I was considering leaving when I read this book. But whether we're entering a new room to us or a literal room, Emily's insights of bringing our full selves with us and how that looks contained valuable insights. She shared beautifully her part of her story with vulnerability and sensitivity. I have many highlights and takeaways that I will carry with me.

This is a great practical book on how to discern when to leave and when to stay. It has excellent life applications asks the reader a lot of self reflective questions and walked me through on how to know when to exit a room in life, how to exit it well, and how to enter the next one and all of the things in between. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating whether it's time to go or to stay in any area of your life.

I thought this book, How to Walk into a Room – The Art of Knowing When to stay and When to Walk Away, would be great based on the description, but I have struggled with it a bit, so this is hard for me review. I like Emily Freeman, she has great books, as I have read her other books in the past.

I am not sure if it is the metaphor of the word “room” being used over and over or that I didn’t find much in application. There were a few parts that I liked and were helpful, but the book just didn’t seem to be what I thought it would have been. I would have also liked to see more biblical applications, but it seems more psychology type applications are used. Of course, I don’t always agree theology wise with her (based on differences), and I see from what she has shared from parts of her life that it is still that way. That is okay, I can still learn from others that I don’t always agree theology wise with. However, I know that others may not be able to get past those parts, so it is definitely not a book for those who are from a biblical reformed background.

I think I may have liked it more if she provided more examples instead of talking in metaphor and shared more examples of applying the steps she used.

The part I really liked is where she talks about, how our backgrounds, experiences affect how we interact with others and make decisions on whether it is time for us to stay in this “room” or leave the “room”. Also, what we will learn from it. Quote: “How we’re formed informs how we walk into rooms. And how we walk into rooms has an impact on what happens once we get there.” “How we walk into new rooms often depends on the last rooms we were in and how our time there ended.” Much of section two of the book was relatable, having had some situations in my life where things ended well and other times things didn’t end well. So, I can see how knowing these things and taking the time to work through it would be helpful for the next “room” you walk into or leave. Great question to ask “Is it time for me to pause, to stay, or to walk away?” She offers many other types of questions and suggestions, so these parts may be helpful for you if you are in a situation you need discernment in.

I’ve been following EPF for a long while so when she started posting on Instagram about walking out of a room, I started to pay attention. I was walking out of a room. It resonated, deeply. And then I heard about this book. I had to read it. It offered wisdom and encouragement while also showing me how to ask questions in order to identify things and make decisions. Overall I would say it was helpful for me as I stand in a hallway. I did feel a little like it was missing something. It seemed repetitive, like it could have been chopped in half and made more precise and been fantastic. That is the only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 stars. I appreciate EPF style and her voice. It is gentle and kind but also not going to take your crap! It was an easy read that left me with questions to ask in future situations in the future.

As sort of a continuation of her last book, The Next Right Thing, Emily leads us toward an expanse: less about what to do in the next ten minutes or hour or week, and more about large-scale, life-changing decision-making. Centered on trusting your intuition and your power of discernment (with or without a higher power), there are lists of thoughtful questions to consider. One of those that stuck with me the most is, a 'flag' is not necessarily red or green automatically. Instead, start out with a 'yellow flag' and see it as a caution sign to re-evaluate your situation, not an instant red.
Emily shares vulnerable, tangible stories from her own life with her own difficult decisions, and the nuanced way she describes these specific shifts in her life aid in expressing the universal concepts highlighted in the rest of the book.
As I was reading, what had the biggest impact on me was reflecting on past relationship choices that weren't necessarily mine to make - more like I was forced out of the room of friendship by the other people (though I did make the decision to intentionally not stay in the dysfunctional room with them). There was no closure, just an immediate silence, and the situations I'm thinking of happened during 2020, when I needed these friends the most, so it hurt the most when I had to give them up.
Emily's framework describing how to reflect on past decisions and how to employ that reflection in making future ones is a wise, helpful, discerning, and profound perspective. Instead of relying on one-size-fits-all answers, she encourages us to trust in ourselves. We already have the answer, we already have a 'spiritual personality' and 'inner compass' and core values (and she helps us unveil these personal facets), it just may take some time, a long time, but it's worth it. This book reassures us that it's okay to take that time, to linger on thresholds and in hallways, to reveal the rooms that align with our true authentic selves.

I have not read any books by Emily P. Freeman before, and was pleasantly surprised by "How to Walk into a Room." She covers topics such as how to walk out of a room, the importance of discernment, and how to walk into a room, advising that asking the right questions can help with this process. She provided questions I want to reflect on more as I approach the New Year. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

In her forthcoming book, EPF gently opens the door for us. It reads as a memoir of sorts, sharing her story and her family’s journey over the past several years. With the memoir bent, I hesitate to rate it fewer than 5 stars, as I applaud the honesty and vulnerability required to pour out such a work. I believe The Next Right Thing set the bar so high, I wistfully desired How To Walk Into A Room to meet or exceed similar expectations.

As a fan of Emily P. Freeman, I generally like everything that she creates. How To Walk Into A Room is no different, however it is not my favorite of her creations. I think the reader of this book will need to be at a certain place in their life…perhaps discerning what’s ahead, perhaps making a literal or figurative move, perhaps walking away from a relationship or quite possibly just wanting to see what’s behind the next door. With the help of this book and Ms. Freeman’s vast knowledge and good judgment, the reader should be able to peel away the layers of confusion leading them to their own wise choices and self-confidence.

A good framework for the concept of discernment. It makes things simple to help you think through what are otherwise some weighty, confusing, complex life decisions.

A kind and compassionate work from Emily P. Freeman. This story shines in its helpful but not overbearing building out of the central metaphor, and the numerous examples of what it may look like to walk in (or out of) rooms.

Another solid book for those who follow Emily P. Freeman. Her voice rings throughout and it is a great resource on when to enter and leave spaces.

A great book club book. I loved that the book made me think and feel and think about my feelings. A lot to consider.