Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for this copy in exchange for my review.

I absolutely loved this. Own a car is both extremely freeing and terrifying. From getting a car to maintaining it Milchtein gives great advice every step of the way. It's all easy to follow and I've already recommended this to a few people.

The need-to-knows of car ownership can seem overwhelming. If you already own a car there is routine maintenance and insurance. How much do you need to learn and understand? Then there will come a time when you’ll need to face the possibly exciting, but probably unpleasant, task of buying a vehicle. It’s highly unlikley that you’ll have Chaya Milchtein in person right there to help you out. So get her book, read it, take notes, keep it, review it. This is a reference book and it is excellent.

Milchtein’s explanations have clarity without unneeded detail. She shares resources and tips. She covers whys and why nots. She recognizes that there is a large range of financial situations, which is very refreshing. The amount of information is impressive for a book this size. And it is all very readable. If you think that understanding car stuff is beyond you Chaya Milchtein will prove you wrong and you won’t regret it.

A practical and easily understood book, useful for car owners who may be confused about the intricacies of acquiring, owning, and maintaining a vehicle.

This a great book filled with a lot of practical and easy to understand advice about researching, buying, owning, maintaining, and selling cars. As someone who doesn’t consider themselves super car literate, I found this book (and Chaya’s online car content) to be very accessible and comes across as advice from a close friend who’s looking out for you, isn’t judging your questions or lack of experience, and just wants to help.

Unfortunately, like many women, I’ve been talked down to and made to feel stupid by car guys and mechanics alike, making me dread things like handling car maintenance issues or even the thought of looking for a new car. While there’s a lot of car info available online, it can be hard to even know where to start or who to trust. I love that this book sort of covers it all, never telling you what you SHOULD do, but laying out the different options, helping break them down so you really understand the differences (including the pros and cons of each), along with advice to help you make the best decision for YOU and YOUR needs.

The book’s tone makes tasks that can feel overwhelming (like looking for a new car) less scary and breaks everything down into manageable chunks and topics. It answers questions I’ve been too afraid to ask in the past (or didn’t know I should be asking). The language itself is very welcoming and inclusive - facts and advice interspersed with personal stories/experiences from others also stumbling their way through car ownership and maintenance. It really helps you feel like you’re not the only one still trying to figure all this car stuff out.

While I’m grateful to NetGalley for the advance digital copy, I’ve already pre-ordered my own physical copy from Chaya, as I know this is a book I’m going to be referencing again and again - and it’s going to be way more helpful than my actual car manual.

I am not a car person. I do not come from 'car people.' I am one of the hopelessly-clueless when it comes to auto maintenance and upkeep. But this book has made me feel like it's something I could actually master (well, the basics) and feel empowered about. It speaks in layman's terms, like a good friend walking you through your first experience under the hood. This would be a great book for teens who are new drivers, as it assumes a starting point of zero, yet isn't condescending (many are!), and does a good job of pointing out what you can learn to do on your own to save money and for what you shoudl really be looking to an expert for assistance.

Everyone needs this book.

I come from a family of “car people.” My dad and his brothers are mechanics; my brother has worked in parts sales and tire service; I worked at a luxury car dealership during college.

I’ve had the experience of being the only person in a car full of well educated adults who knew how to change the blown tire we just had. I’ve had friends call me for advice when they begin shopping for their first car. This book serves a deep need: accessible, practical, non-judgmental advice about the lifecycle of purchasing, owning, and selling a vehicle.

I’ve already been aggressively recommending this book to everyone I know. I made my brother and dad listen while I read aloud specific passages that so encapsulated everything I wish I had to share with my car-illiterate friends.

I love this book. I love Chaya’s voice, her story, and the way her empathy seeps throughout this book. Everyone needs to read this book.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is great to have on hand and provides very easy-to-follow explanations and information about owning a car. I would highly recommend it.

Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership: Uncomplicating Cars for All of Us is an accessible and enchanting book about cars. I started another book on the same subject and got stalled by the pacing and large amounts of information being tossed on me.

Chaya M. Milchtein's cadence and insight felt like a well-informed friend giving me the lowdown on what to expect from owning a car. While I've only read the book through once, it's definitely a book you would use as a reference as you for caring for your car. I'd also recommend it, as the author does, while perusing your important owner's manual. This would make for a lovely gift for any new car owner. I'd recommend it to anyone working on getting a better handle on their car and it's maintenance or buying or selling a car.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an ARC.

What a joy to read! Such accessible information, you feel their passion and need to educate. It's a perfect guide from A to Z, to simple maintenance. Important to not: this is more relevant to the US.

#NetGalley