What a delightful reading experience! Annie Jones is a gifted storyteller and I love this book from start to finish. Each essay was a satisfying balance of reflectively serious and pleasantly entertaining. I found her exploration of what it means to "stay put" to be not only interesting but heartfelt. I hope she writes another book, this one was a pleasure.

I’ve long been a fan of Annie Jones’ podcast, From the Front Porch, and have lived vicariously through her for years. She’s an independent bookstore owner…in the South. Swoon! Visiting The Bookshelf in Thomasville, GA is on my bookstore bucket list.

Her debut book is a mash-up of 75% memoir and 25% essay collection. I could relate to parts of it, and I think anyone reading it could find themselves somewhere in the pages. It’s thoughtful, reflective, reminiscent, and nostalgic.

The beginning essays fulfilled what her book title suggests: learning to live and appreciate the small things in life. To find happiness and contentment when you have or choose to stay where you are. To stay connected to your roots and the people that shaped you. To bloom where you’re planted. It was really resonating with me, and I loved reading about her path to owning The Bookshelf.

At one point, however, the book goes off course, and just becomes her life story; including old memories and tales about her relatives. It felt as if the author suddenly forgot what direction the book was supposed to be going in mid-writing it.

Overall, it was relatively interesting, but not exactly what the description and title promises it will be.

*Thank you @netgalley and @harperonebooks for this advanced reader copy. Ordinary Time is out on shelves now.

Listening to Ordinary Time felt like going for a long walk with a good friend while having a great conversation. If you need company while you run errands or do chores or walk the dog, this book is it!

This is a collection of essays about different topics - about being the one who stays when others leave and finding/building your community. I was a little worried it might be too religious for me but it wasn’t at all - it was interesting to learn about Annie’s experiences even where they differ from mine. (After reading I feel like we are friends and I can use her first name haha)

Thank you to the publisher for the free ebook to review. The audiobook was narrated by the author and I highly recommend!!

I’ve had to restart this write up multiple times. I’m a huge fan of everything this author does - bookstore owner, avid reader/reviewer, podcaster - and everything I wrote made me sound like a crazy stalker/fan girl. Annie is a private person and we are so lucky she opened up to share her story here. She covers many topics - faith, business ownership, marriage, children - I found so much relatable and my fan girl status has been kicked up a notch. Sorry not sorry.

Annie B. Jones is the owner of the Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia, near her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. She always had big journalistic dreams, but found herself drawn back to the small town, owning and running a bookstore. In this lovely memoir, she talks about growing up in the South and how you can find fulfillment, even with some bumps in the road, in staying near where you are from. If you listen to her podcast, From the Front Porch, you will know that Annie's winning personality and sweet but fun nature are a draw in this short and sweet book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This is a collection of essays about how an ordinary life is not a bad one, and how it feels to stay when everyone around you seems to leave.

This book feels like it was written for me. It won’t be for everyone (nor should it be), maybe some people will be surprised by the religious themes throughout, but if you can relate, you’ll really relate. I felt at times as though I was talking to my future self, which you can image was hopeful and a bit teary.

It’s a quiet book, one that begs to be revisited again and again.

I love Annie, her bookstore, and her podcast; it was lovely to get to know her through her words. I have really enjoyed listening to From the Front Porch podcast the last couple of years and it’s hard not to feel like you know Annie and some of The Bookshelf squad through the weekly episodes shared. So anything Annie has to say through whatever media I’m here for! And with this jewel of a collection she’s made me pause, reflect, tearful, giggle and wish I could be in her little community of Thomasville.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperOne for the opportunity to read this book. It was truly a delight!

This is a cute book of essays about living an "ordinary life", not a big city life with a flashy job as we think we might have as we grow up. I appreciated what the author had to say. My favorite essays were the ones involving reading and owning a bookstore, and a few of them I did skim, especially the ones about religion. I think most readers will be able to appreciate this book, and her message that we are where we are meant to be, even it looks different than what we thought our lives would look like!

Oh, my heart! This book felt as if it was written just for me. I discovered Annie when she was a guest on an Enneagram podcast a few years ago, and I've been following her ever since. From the "You've Got Mail" quotes to the raw descriptions of her deconstruction journey, so many of these essays resonated with me (152 insights into my soul, amiright?) I appreciated her willingness to discuss her work, her family, and her experience with infertility. I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not immediately falling in love with Annie.

Devoured this sweet, thoughtful memoir in essays by one of my fave podcasters and indie bookstore owners, Annie B. Jones. It delivered exactly what I’d hoped and expected as far as contemplations on various aspects of her life—from family to faith to friendships—in which she has chosen to stay and remain constant, while also looking a bit at where she has ultimately chosen to evolve or slightly change. Annie is truly a beautiful writer and thinker. This delivers a really lovely slice of life and I highly recommend the audio in Annie’s own voice.

Reading ORDINARY TIME was just a lovely experience. I have listened to the podcast for The Bookshelf for a long time and even went on a little overnight trip to Thomasville back when I lived in Georgia, but Annie B. Jones’s memoir exceeded my expectations.

The premise of the book is staying still in a world constantly in flux, and I related to the essays more than I thought I would. For a long time, being a transient, constantly-on-the-move military spouse was a major part of my identity. I moved back to my hometown three years ago, and at times it has felt like a big adjustment. Annie’s thoughts about staying rather than doing something that feels “big” or glamorous resonated so deeply with me. I also especially loved her writing about faith. As a person of faith myself, I don’t usually want to read prescriptive how-tos about what I should or should not be doing with my life—I want to read individual experiences. The author’s faith life is very different from mine, but in a world where religion increasingly feels like something that is mocked or negative, I appreciated her beautiful, expansive meditations on her own experiences.

I found myself brought to tears multiple times. I literally want to read an entire chapter out loud to one of my friends because there was a nugget of wisdom that made me think of her. I already know I will be returning to ORDINARY TIME again, probably before the year is over. This book is a gem, and I’m grateful to have read it.

As a lover of books and bookstores, I was interested to read Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put, written by bookstore owner and podcaster, Annie B. Jones. This is a memoir that is written in essays, but it feels like you are listening to a friend. Annie grapples with the idea of setting down roots and staying put, even when others are leaving for bigger places. She shares stories about loving the life you have, even though it wasn’t what you originally imagined for yourself. She writes about community, friendship, faith, and love, but also about struggles, loss and the feeling of being left behind. And, of course, we hear about what it is like to be a bookstore owner and podcaster. This book surpassed my expectations. I loved it! Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Listeners of Annie’s From the Front Porch podcast won’t be surprised that her writing is as thoughtful and relatable as she is on the podcast. I absolutely adored this book of essays.

Ordinary Time is about just that — our ordinary lives and the lessons we can learn through staying or leaving. As someone who lives in a small town, married to my high school sweetheart, in a house where I can see from my house both the home I grew up in (where my parents still live) and my grandma’s house, there was so much that I related to in this book. Her stories of people coming and going in our lives, finding joy in the ordinary, navigating challenges in our faith lives and finding peace and contentment in our lives and in our relationships were quiet, thoughtful and poignant.

This book made me laugh, made me nod in recognition, and made me tear up more than a few times. This book truly felt like listening to stories from an old friend.

When I tell you that I loved this book so much, I mean that I am still thinking about essays weeks later and I read this during my busiest work time of the year where much of what I read doesn’t stick with me for long. I plan to buy a copy for a friend and another for my forever shelves.

While some essays were super relatable to my life, others were very different experiences that helped me understand some things friends have gone through.

The whole time I could hear Annie B Jones’ voice in my head since I listen to her every week through her podcast. It brought an extra special experience even though I want listening to the audiobook.

Rating:
Loved it!

What you’ll find:
Stories about life in the South
Heartfelt essays that will draw you in
Humor and emotion

For some, the notion of moving to a big city to have a big and important life is their teenage or young adult ambition. And, for some, this becomes a reality. Yet, for others like Annie B. Jones, life has a way of ebbing and flowing, and keeping you closer to the home you've always known; where new dreams are made and where you still make a difference.

Owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia, and host of the podcast “From the Front Porch,” in this, her debut memoir, Annie gently reminds us of the power of belonging, connection, and staying.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperOne for access to the ARC.

Ordinary Time is a thoughtful and reflective essay collection by podcaster and bookstore owner, Annie B. Jones.

Podcast host and independent bookstore owner, Annie B. Jones reminds us in a series of thoughtful and reflective essays that we can have an extraordinary life by living fully in the ordinary.

My Thoughts:
Podcast Host and Bookstore Owner
I have been a long-time listener of the From the Front Porch podcast by Annie B. Jones. In fact, I listed it as one of my top five favorite bookish podcasts in this recent post. In this week’s episode of the podcast, Annie shares an audio excerpt from Ordinary Time.

Annie is also owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore, in small town Thomasville, Georgia. I’ve enjoyed watching her grow her business, serve her community, and thrive during the Pandemic. She’s innovative, creative, thoughtful, kind, reflective, brave, and humorous. You’d want to be friends if you lived in her town. The Bookshelf provides efficient and personalized services to all online customers.

The Cover
Unless you’ve followed Annie, you might not know that the cover of her book is a graphic representation of her beloved bookstore.



Essays
The thoughtful, gentle, and reflective essays in Ordinary Time cover a variety of topics that are relatable to many readers. Annie Jones is authentic, thoughtful, transparent, and kind. You could easily read one essay a day (in order or randomly). The tone of the essays is conversational, and you will feel like you’re sitting across the table from a friend. Annie is similar to you and me, living her ordinary life in thoughtful and meaningful ways.

The author has put together a Spotify playlist to enhance your reading experience (one song per essay)

Affability
The book has many quotable passages and thoughtful gems. One of the fun gems I enjoyed thinking about is the virtue of affability.. “Simply put, the virtue of approachableness.” Or from the Modern Catholic Dictionary, affability ‘”partakes of justice in that a person adjusts to other people, giving each one the respect he or she deserves.” Annie exudes affability.

Content Consideration: miscarriage (you might be encouraged to know that she is now 7 months pregnant!)

Recommending Ordinary Time:
I enthusiastically recommend Ordinary Time for readers looking to add more reflective nonfiction to their TBRs. It would make a terrific book club selection because of the variety of essays and topics, or a thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day.

Thanks #NetGalley @HarperOneBooks for a complimentary eARC of #OrdinaryTime upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I am a longtime fan of Annie B. Jones' podcast, From the Front Porch, in which she shares her current reads and stories from running a small-town bookstore. Our reading tastes don't perfectly align, but there is a significant overlap so I was very interested in reading her first book.

Ordinary Time is a collection of essays examining what it looks like in life to stay, even while others move away from hometowns, away from childhood faiths, away from careers, etc. I enjoyed this collection quite a bit, but there were only one or two essays that really resonated with me as something I wanted to reflect upon further. If you like her bookstore and her podcast, you'll like this book. I appreciated that even though I didn't listen to the audiobook I am so familiar with Annie's voice that it felt as if she were reading it to me while I read the digital version.

Ordinary Time by Annie B. Jones is an absolutely lovely reflection on her life as the owner of a small town bookstore in the South. I have been looking forward to this release and picked it up right away- the next thing I knew, I had read half the book in one sitting. I have had the delight of getting to know Annie while visiting The Bookshelf in downtown Thomasville, Georgia quite a few times over the years and as a long time listener of her podcast, From the Front Porch. Reading this book feels like having a conversation with Annie on her porch swing with a cool drink while the sunsets. She has built such a beautiful book store with a wonderful community of staff and readers. And Annie's writing truly reflects that beauty and wonder. In Ordinary Time, Annie shares stories about staying put when everyone and everything else moves, struggles in business, and the ups and downs of a life well lived. Her format of different types of staying create a memoir in essays that is perfect of fans of John Green's The Anthropocene Reviewed. I read this in print but cannot wait to check out the audio.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an e-Arc. Thoughts and review are my own.

This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but I still really enjoyed it. Finding myself living back where I grew up after 10+ years away, I felt I could relate to a lot of what the blurb promised. The vast majority of my friends are no longer here and the ties that bind them are dwindling as well. I was hoping for more essays on this bittersweetness of this “staying”, I wanted the whole book to really focus on it because lately have been feeling the heavy/sad part of it deeply. My childhood friends are off where their adventures and lives have taken them, and my old CT friends are far away. And here I am…However, I did appreciate her other meditations on “ordinary” life, which I felt was the true theme of the book - our jobs, families, and everyday routines. How meaningful (and extra-ordinary!) it can be to belong to a community and enjoy the simple daily pleasures of things you love (hello to my books, John Mayer, and Jellycats!) It made me reflect on my own small community and how much I cherish all the connections I have, and hope to have, here - both new & old. My kind neighbors, my new church family, the local bookstore that knows me by name…To me, and the author Annie, these things are more valuable and life-giving than a big city adventure. (And she doesn’t knock those who leave - we love you still!) Thank you so much to HarperOne and NetGalley for the advanced copy! I’m so glad to now follow Annie and her bookstore adventures on IG! I really would love to go to one of her retreats someday! This book will be published tomorrow, 4/22/25!

What makes this book truly special is the author's openness. She doesn't shy away from sharing her struggles, disappointments, and the moments when life didn't quite match her carefully laid plans. Her honest thoughts on these unexpected turns remind us that sometimes what we receive isn't what we wanted—but exactly what we needed.

The writing style feels like a conversation with a wise friend who's willing to share an open conversation of triumphs and losses. Her small-town perspective brings a refreshing authenticity to universal themes of resilience, community, and finding purpose.

This would make an excellent book club selection!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love this book and Annie’s writing. She can turn a subject like line dancing in a gymnasium full of senior citizens into a reflection on faith and belonging. For me, she belongs up there with writers like Wendell Berry and Marilynne Robinson for her ability to see holiness in the everyday and to inspire faithfulness and compassion in readers.