The Shelter Within is lacking so much context. To really understand this story, we need knowledge of the events that led to the author's situation.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Thak you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. After reading Stephanie Land's memoirs, Maid and Class, I have nothing but admiration for her. The Shelter Within is an essay/memoir about her first months as a single mother of a 7-year old and a newborn. This is set during the period in which she is still struggling to better herself and make a life for her small family. She never feels sorry for herself and will work multiple jobs to keep food on the table. Her memoirs and this essay are some of the finest examples of hard work and determination.

The book’s strength lies in its candid, vulnerable storytelling. Land writes with emotional honesty, capturing the nuances of survival and motherhood under extremely difficult circumstances. Her voice remains clear and authentic throughout, and readers who appreciated the rawness of her earlier work may find a similar resonance here. However, the narrative can at times feel fragmented, with shifts in tone and structure that may challenge readers looking for a more linear or cohesive storyline. Some sections delve deeply into personal reflection, which may be engaging for those invested in memoirs, but could come across as repetitive or meandering for others. While The Shelter Within raises important social and political themes, it doesn’t always explore them in depth beyond the personal lens. Readers expecting broader analysis or policy critique may find it limited in scope.

Praise for the writing skills and also for the gumption to never give up. While it is easy to judge Ms Lands decisions, most of us would never have the drive to continue to peruse our own goals the way she has. Happy to have read this short follow up to CLASS.

Very touching, I can't imagine how the main character in the story could live as a single mother with 2 children. Although the story is short, the content is solid and can make us realize that God's help can come from anywhere as long as we don't stop praying.

This essay brings to light the stark reality of juggling food and housing insecurity with postpartum life. A very vulnerable piece of writing, that is extremely well crafted.

Thank you Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

From the author of Maid and Class comes the short story “The Shelter Within”.

Though short, this story packs to the punch with a reflection of immediate post-partum experiences from the single mother of two. With a 7 year old and a new born baby, Stephanie shares how she faced food and housing insecurity, in ways many of us cannot imagine. It stirred lots of emotions and raised lots of questions.

A powerful, short story that I recommend highly.

⭐⭐⭐✨

In this short essay, Stephanie Land shows us her reality as a writer and as a single mother of an infant and a newborn while struggling financially. It packed a punch and spoke on some topics such as food insecurity or how the system helps (or doesn't) those in need. Would've loved a longer version of this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great story that explored life after Maid. I really enjoyed getting to read more about Land's life after she had her second child. I think it would be great to read more from this time period in her life, so I hope she will expand this eventually.

Obviously when novella book is part of the author's true story, its a little bit harder to give feedback.

This novella continues the narration of her struggles, as someone who watched the show and read the first and second book, I think this novella could've been added to the second book.

I think her continuing to be stuck in the same loop of a cycle her two previous books have had, i was really wanting to see her break the cycle.

This was a vulnerable piece of writing that will resonate with readers in some way, shape or form. However, those who are struggling to make ends meet or those who are new and/or single parents will probably relate the most. I just wanted to reach through the pages and give her a hug. It's an emotional, quick story of resilience and continuing to "press play".

Thank you, Stephanie Land, for sharing your story...a lot of feelings in a minute number of pages.

Additional thanks to Amazon Originals for the digital copy via NetGalley. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this short story.

After the first book's success, I can imagine how difficult follow-up books could be. This book continues the story of the single mom struggling on her own, but now with two kids. The debt grows as she navigates food stamps, child support and the kindness of friends. It does bring into focus, especially for those two kids, that all it takes to be happy are the little things, including movie nights with family.

This book was so much more emotive than I expected it to be. I thought this would be one that I would dip in and out of but I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one sitting.

I consistently want to root for Stephanie Land and while I’ll never root against her, sometimes my feeling is…ooph.

Don’t get me wrong she’s a lovely writer so that alone should make you read her. And SHOCK, she’s not the most likable woman. Oh my goodness gracious, can you even imagine?? I will forever be on her side but I also wish to god she would make better choices. She waxes on about others judging her choices and yes, I do. But I also feel for her. I’m poor, I’m a woman, I’m disabled, I’m estranged from my family, so I SEE and inherently feel the struggle. I truly don’t know how she does it. Sometimes, I don’t know why she chooses it either.

As for the overall essay, it does feel like a snippet of Maid and Class. I’m not mad at it but also am not sure I see the point. As a stand alone it doesn’t hit particularly hard but it does end on a hopeful note which is necessary. I could’ve seen this as an extra few chapters in Class or in the beginning of a next book in the series.

I don’t even know where to start because this book cracked something open in me.

The Shelter Within is not just another story about poverty or motherhood. It’s about what it means to keep going when every single day feels like too much. Stephanie Land puts you right there with her; in the exhaustion of trying to soothe a baby while your older kid needs help with homework and you’ve got ten dollars to your name and no idea what you’ll eat tomorrow. This book is messy and hard and human in all the ways life actually is. There’s no romanticizing the struggle here. No polished happily ever after. Just one woman doing her absolute best to raise her kids and not lose herself in the process. There were pages that made me cry and pages where I had to put the book down because it hit too close. But there’s also this quiet power running through the whole thing. A kind of hope that feels real because it’s earned.

It reminded me that survival isn’t just about scraping by. It’s about still believing — somehow — that your story matters even when the world tries to tell you it doesn’t.

If you’ve ever felt invisible or like you were drowning while everyone else seemed to be swimming just fine, read this. It will break your heart and give it back stronger.

4 stars
Thank you Amazon for an early copy!

What an impactful essay! I was swept away by the emotions conveyed in this short read. The author writes real and raw. I am impressed by her gumption. I looked forward to reading her other works.

"the Shelter Within" by Stephanie Land. is a short book, less than 100 pages. She has written two books about her struggles trying to raise a small child. Earning wages that never seem to be enough to pay her bills. Her second books she writes of trying to go to college while trying to work and support her daughter and got pregnant for her second child. This book is right after she gives birth to her baby, Coraline. She writes of taking care of a newborn and seven year old daugher and trying to earn money to pay rent buy food and pay other bills. this short read is about her continued struggles now the mother of two. This book is before her book "Maid" comes out and becomes a huge success. She is always very honest writing of her struggles to try and provide for her small family. Another good read by the author.

An incredibly poignant and heartbreaking short story memoir of motherhood and poverty. Whilst my youngest child is a little older - 16 months - he slept peacefully next to me as I binge read this. This book definitely taught me to count my blessings, and that whilst my family may be currently on the lower income spectrum of things, we are blessed to live in Canada where it is possible for me to be a stay at home mom of our baby and two girls with disabilities whilst my husband works, and that not everyone, especially those in the States who have horrifically low maternity leaves, if any at all, are as lucky. This book definitely made me snuggle my babies a little tighter. I was impressed at her incredible bravery and resilience, and I’m so glad, from what I’ve read about Stephanie in more recent years, life appears to have been much kinder to her, since.

5 stars

This story starts off where Land's book "Class" ends, right after the birth of her second daughter Coraline. I have learned so much from reading Land's stories not only about navigating life with limited resources, but about the power of resilience. Land is a force to be reckoned with and I will continue to read all of her books and short stories. Thank you for sharing your life lessons with us. I am so proud of you!

I have read other books by this author, on this topic. This is an essay that she wrote following the birth of her second child. Land shows us how difficult it is to be on a bare basic income, while being single and supporting two young girls. She works, but her income is not regular. She fights for child support, which is also not dependable. As a reader, it was challenging to be absorbed in her hardships, but find that the essay ends in a much more positive light. Thank you to Netgalley for this free e-book in exchange for an honest review.