Small Moves, Big Life is a light, fitness-focused guide filled with simple tips, daily routines, and plenty of positivity. The author’s upbeat energy and straightforward advice make it easy to follow, especially if you’re looking for small, manageable ways to bring structure and healthier habits into your day. That said, the content often feels basic and surface-level, especially if you’re already familiar with personal development or wellness practices. At times, the confident, self-promotional tone and glimpses of the author’s privileged lifestyle can make it harder to fully connect. Overall, this book works best as an entry point for beginners who want a quick motivational boost. It’s encouraging and accessible—but not particularly deep or groundbreaking.

"Small Moves, Big Life: 7 Daily Practices to Supercharge Your Energy, Productivity, and Happiness" caught my eye based on the title. Andrea Leigh Rogers wrote this book after going through her own hurdles in life and realizing that she needed to make some changes. Rogers decided she wanted to get out of the rut she was in and re-find her voice, which she did following 7 simple practices. These 7 practices are as follows: breathe in, stretch yourself, just press play, do the thing, set the table, mind up, and breathe it out. I enjoyed the FEEL framework the author shared about exercise. It should be Fast, Effective, Enjoyable, and Lifelong. I also enjoyed the section of the book referring to the "hope molecules" that you can grow doing daily exercise.

Overall, the audience is reminded to determine the thing you most want to accomplish in life and then start taking small steps that will get you closer and closer to that thing. This was a quick and easy read, but I didn't really learn anything that I hadn't read before. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I read quite a lot in this genre and can’t find any fault in the recommendations made by the author. The writing is clear and engaging, lighthearted and approachable. However, because I’m no beginner it was a little lacklustre for me personally. A great entry point for a curious beginner.

While these weren't groundbreaking new things I had no clue about, it was truly motivational and helpful. These 7 things truly are simple and pretty commonly known. However, she gives a variety of options/methods of each, which was the most impactful part for me. I loved how she broke it down and explained how to do each, and you can try them to see which best fits you or your needs. I loved the writing style real talk with funny moments but also relatable moments and stories that just made me feel like I was having a chat with my bestie. This was truly motivational, and I have honestly been using the 7 practices every day, and it's been a difference! I plan to continue doing them as I can truly see why they're beneficial!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and BenBella Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book (and putting the 7 methods into actual practice for over 2 weeks).

What worked for me:
Simple and accessible: The daily tips and routines are easy to follow and don’t require much time or effort. They’re helpful for someone who wants a straightforward guide to structure their day.
Positive tone: The author’s upbeat and confident style can be motivating, especially if you’re looking for a light push to get started with healthier habits.
What didn’t work as well:
Too basic: If you’re already familiar with personal development, habits, or wellness practices, much of the content feels repetitive and surface-level.
Privilege gap: The book often reflects the author’s comfortable lifestyle, which makes it harder to relate to if you’ve faced more challenging circumstances.
Self-promotion vibe: The confident, almost self-advertising tone may inspire some readers, but it can also feel distracting or a bit insincere.
Final thoughts:
This book is a good entry point for beginners who want quick, easy tools to bring more structure and positivity into their routines. But for readers with more experience in self-help or who are seeking deeper insight, it’s likely to fall short. That’s why, for me, it lands solidly at 3 stars—motivating in parts, but ultimately not very memorable.

This was interesting but not life changing. It was a good reminder but super focused and not always applicable. I would still recommend to others especially for fitness oriented goals.

Small Moves, Big Life offers plenty of encouraging reminders and bite-sized inspiration. While it doesn’t necessarily chart new territory, it’s a pleasant reinforcement of habits we already know are good for us. Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella for the ARC.

This is a very fitness focused book written by a fitness influencer. If you’re looking for some basic routines to support healthy living and getting some basic things done each day, this may be for you.

As someone much older than the target audience who already raised children and knows quite a bit about healthy habits, affirmations and time management this was pretty surface material.

The author seems to have led a pretty charmed life with the exception of a divorce and she is self-confident and very comfortable tooting her own horn and pushing her brand. So, it might be hard for those who have some struggles or a less fortunate situation to relate to her.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.