There'll Be Peace When You Are Done

With accolades from every corner of the Supernatural world, it is hard to add anything of merit to a review. 15 years of stepping outside their comfort zone to help any and everyone is not only a major achievement, it's a milestone that very few shows hope to reach. That the actors and their characters are both well loved by fans, is almost unheard of. If you've never watched the show, well, you must be living in an alternate universe. I'm sure this is not the last we will see of these brothers and their dedicated efforts to keep us all safe, but we will miss tuning into their world every week.

I came to "Supernatural" a bit late in things. When season 12 was added to Netflix, I decided to see what all the fuss was about, and opted to finally check it out. Three weeks later, when I left my couch and rejoined the world, I was a full convert, drawn into a family I didn't realize I was missing until I was home. The Winchesters and the family they've created for themselves in the ones they care about spoke to a part of me that has always known family wasn't just about blood, it was about the bonds you make with people. More than that, though, the "family" of fans which embraced that sentimentality quickly became a part of my life, too, as so many have found over the last 15 seasons.

I remember where I was and what I was doing when the announcement came out that season 15 would be the last. Does anyone who is a fan not? I was out at a very public event, my "Carry On My Wayward Son" hoodie (part of my daily uniform by that point) on, when two text messages came in back to back from two very different friends that just said "Are you okay?" My heart hiccupped...that's the only way I can describe what happened when I read those texts...and then I noticed a Twitter notification. Suddenly I was surrounded by a thousand other people, crying as quietly as I could as I watched JA, JP and MC announce that season 15 would be the final season.

THERE'LL BE PEACE WHEN YOU ARE DONE is a second collection of stories about our "family", from the fans and also from cast. ( FAMILY DON'T END WITH BLOOD, also collected and editied by Lynn Zuvernis, is the first.) The stories contained are reminders that the motto "always keep fighting" has been embraced by a huge community that has endless stories about monsters and darkness but have learned, like the Winchesters, to find those who help us in our battles. Sometimes that help comes from unexpected and/or unconventional places...the show has taught us that that's okay. It has also helped us learn how to grieve, especially when the loss is so great that it flattens us for a bit. Both books are not only a great addition to the library of a fan, but they are also a great way to show those who don't "get" our relationships with the show/it's cast what the deeper connection is.

Season 15 may mark the end of new episodes, but we will never lose our bonds as fans and as surrogates in the Winchester family.

As a fan of Supernatural this collection gave me the warm and fuzzies.

Lynn and her team did a lovely job of collating these stories, many of which made me laugh out loud.

Would recommend for any Supernatural fan!

So I was browsing NetGalley a few weeks ago, checking out the selections (I don’t often request books; my blog is still kind of small and I don’t necessarily think I’ll be approved for many titles, but I like to know what books are out there that I can look forward to!), when the first part of the title of one book reached out and punched me in the face: There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done: Actors and Fans Celebrate the Legacy of Supernatural, edited by Lynn S. Zubernis (BenBella Books, 2020). The song by Kansas has been a long time favorite of mine, so I was immediately curious as to what the book was about, and I was a million times more delighted when I read the rest of the title and learned that this was a collection of essays about the CW show Supernatural, a show my husband and I binge-watched two years ago on Netflix and which I’ve enjoyed ever since. The book was offered as a ‘Read Now,’ and I happily clicked the button. (And since I was pulled in by the title, I’m counting this as my read for the 2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt of ‘a book you picked because the title caught your attention.’)

Lynn S. Zubernis has edited a collection of essays and interviews by both cast and crew members and fans that speak to not only the brilliancy of the show, but the camaraderie and deep friendship that has blossomed among its ardent fans. Cast, crew, and fans alike refer to themselves as family (the SPNFamily, to be exact), and in every essay, their bonds are made obvious by the love the fans show each other, the charity work that every person even loosely associated with this show is moved to participate in, the deep desire to follow Sam and Dean’s footsteps by making the world a better, safer place, and the courage to be open, vulnerable, and thus, free.

The essays run the gamut, from experiences on set and how they changed an actor or actress’s life, to how being part of the fandom helped each fan to grow, but the common theme here are the permanent effects one single TV show has had, and the effects are massive. Far from being a mere aside of pop culture, Supernatural has acted as a catalyst for personal growth, from inspiring fans to keep fighting with the anxiety that has plagued them for years, to pushing them to take steps and make changes that they’d been afraid of taking. For a show that carried on for fifteen seasons, that’s no small feat, and no small amount of changed lives. The effects of Supernatural are long-ranging.

There’s an awful lot to fall in love with in this book. The actors’ willingness to connect with their fans is truly remarkable, and their essays, in which they detail their involvement in fan conventions and on social media, is absolutely heartwarming. But what really shines is the dedication to charity that this show has fomented among its followers. Almost every essay has some mention of how its author engaged in work that benefited people they never met- fundraising, multiple crisis support networks, helping other fans to pay off devastating medical bills- because that’s what family does, even far-off family you don’t often, or ever, see face-to-face. And the Supernatural fandom is the family everyone deserves.

The book isn’t without its criticism of the show, particularly towards earlier the seasons’ treatment of women. It’s never harsh, but it’s fair, and I appreciated such an even-handed take, because when you love something, you want it to be the very best it can be, and we should all be able to criticize the things we love while still loving them. And there are deep dives into certain characters (Charlie is a particular favorite, but there’s plenty of love for Sheriffs Jody Mills and Donna Hanscum as well) and their far-ranging influence, but my favorite essays were the ones that demonstrate that Supernatural‘s ripple effects are less like a tossed pebble and more akin to a giant bolder dropped into the middle of a lake.

Actor Rob Benedict sharing his experiences with suffering a stroke helped a fan to recognize that she was experiencing similar symptoms, and that pushed her to get medical help in time to save her life. A professor used the show to develop a course that helped veterans suffering from PTSD return to civilian life. Fans crowdfunded gender correction surgery for another fan who had decided to move forward with living his best life. Other fans raised money to start a school in Nicaragua and a children’s center in Haiti. The list go on and on and the stories are no less impressive as the book nears completion. Ms. Zubernis has chosen a set of essays that reveal the depth and heart of a television show about two brothers saving the world from things that go bump in the night (and day!), and its true legacy is the love its fans have extended from the show itself to each other and the world beyond.

If you’re a Supernatural fan, this book, this love letter to not just the show but to you and the friends you’ve made because of it, is one you can’t miss. Even for the casual fan like me, There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done was an utter joy to read: the fandom’s love and connection to each other is evident on every single page, and that kind of love is absolutely what the world needs right now. To be honest, I didn’t want this book to end, and I’m looking forward to reading Ms. Zubernis’s other works at some point as well.

“Because family really don’t end with blood. And those of us who have been part of the SPNFamily, whose lives have been changed for the better by this show, are now a little more able to ‘carry on.'”

There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done is a beautiful, moving testament to a television show that transcended the bounds of pop culture and changed what it means to be a fan, and we’re all the better for it. Carry on, friends, and Always Keep Fighting.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book!

There'll Be Peace When You Are Done is a thoughtful and bittersweet collection of short stories paying tribute to the long running series Supernatural.
Heartfelt interviews and essays from cast, crew and fans dive into how the show evolved through the years to stay relevant with the ever-changing landscape of society, and keep a steady fan base coming back week after week. Each story is peppered with photos and artwork making this a nice addition to any fan collection.
However, I was a little disappointed that some of my favorite characters were left out. But, there are additional fan books available listed in the last pages that include them.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to any Supernatural fan.
*Thank you NetGalley, Lynn S. Zubernis and BenBella Books for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Supernatural. This is a collection of vignettes by people whose life has been affected by this show. It is poignant and well written. Very sweet.

Make sure there are no breaks in your salt lines, grab some pie and settle in for some love letters, ‘Supernatural’ style.

‘There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done’ highlights the impact ‘Supernatural’ has had on the lives of both actors and fans over the past fifteen years. Whether a specific episode made fans feel seen, sometimes for the first time, or if they’ve been superfans from the beginning, this TV series has grown into something I don’t think anyone ever expected.

“Supernatural leaves behind a fundamentally changed group of people, inspired to do good, be weird, and be kind.”

Fans have made lifelong friends, changed their career, been inspired to write and create, and found family. Online communities have sprung up, interactions at conventions have solidified friendships and so much money has been raised for charity.

“Supernatural does not sugarcoat the painful aspects of life”

Reminding us to ‘Always Keep Fighting’, regardless of our circumstances, and encouraging us to leave the world better than we found it, ‘Supernatural’ has been one hell of a road trip.

“As we watched Bobby Singer face his physical limitations, we also watched Dean Winchester struggle for psychological healing after trauma, and we also saw Sam Winchester battle his addiction.”

This book includes photos of the cast, fan art and quite possibly the best ‘Supernatural’ shirt I’ve seen, “Sam and Dean Winchester - Keeping gay girls just a little bit straight since 2005”.

This book has demonstrated to me just how limited my ‘Supernatural’ fandom has been compared to others. I’ve never been to a convention. I’ve never made ‘Supernatural’ artwork. I’ve never written fan fiction. I’ve never connected with my favourite actors on social media.

But I have loved this show. I’ve laughed and cried through episodes. I’ve watched favourite characters die, and sometimes come back. I’ve worn my Represent shirt less than I’d like to, so it doesn’t wear out too soon. I’ve read every interview of Jared’s I can find where he references mental health. I’ve drooled over my fair share of cast photos. I’ve reused my 2018 calendar for the second time this year because I like the pictures in it more than recent ones.

I also have the benefit of having loved and lost many TV shows before this one. I know the joy of rediscovering favourite episodes and finding new ones years after I first watched them. ‘Supernatural’ is not the only beloved show I’m losing this year (2020 just keeps on giving) but I have fifteen years worth of Winchester binge watching at my fingertips. Sam, Dean and all of the other characters I’ve welcomed into my fiction family over the years aren’t really going anywhere; they’ll be there whenever I need them.

“So, this is how I suggest we say goodbye to Supernatural. Let’s go back to the beginning and rewatch it all. Let’s continue the conversations and keep the fandom alive. Let’s continue to support each other and follow the future endeavors of all who created Supernatural for us, and with us. Let’s refuse to dwell on endings, but instead embrace this as a new phase of the fandom.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Smart Pop, an imprint of BenBella Books, for the opportunity to read this book.

As a fan of Supernatural from episode one I was excited to come across this book. It's a beautiful tribute to the show and the fans. I love the chapters from the actors. It's amazing when you think about it how huge of an impact this show has had on everyone its touched. The fan written chapters are emotional and beautiful. Amazing photography and illustrations! This one made me laugh, made me smile, get choked up, and shed some tears. Very well done.

Supernatural means a lot to me. It's been quite some time since I first started watching.
It's always been talking topic for me and my friends and also something to bond over with people I just barely knew. There was a summer a few years ago when I immersed myself so much in watching this series, that I can remember so clearly that sometimes I was watching 4-5 episodes a day and just listening to Blue Oyster Cult while doing anything.

It would be weird for me to rate this lower than 5 stars. This is full of stories and personal experiences told by the actors on the show and people who were in some shape or form touched by this story.

If you are a fan of the TV show Supernatural and those hot 🔥 Winchester brothers then this book is perfect for you. In this book we celebrate the shows actors and actresses their triumphs and failures.
It was fun to read first hand accounts of the goings on behind the scenes. The book is full of interviews from the fans, cast and crew.
It was heartwarming, funny and sad knowing the show has ended. But none the less a great read!.
Pick yourself up a copy today!.
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Thank you to netgalley the author and publisher for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

As many of you know, Supernatural is coming to an end this season. In homage to that fact, Lynn S Zubernis has brought together a collection of essays written by various actors, associates, and fans. "There'll be Peace When You Are Done" is a nod to the unofficial theme song by Kansas, "Carry on my Wayward Son" and the title to the collection. A collection of essays was written before, "Family Don't End with Blood" and this one may be a little better in some ways. Some of the writers are Jensen Ackles and fangirl extraordinaire, Alana King. Some essays are better than others. Most writings are farewell messages to the show, which has been on TV for 15 years and has interwoven itself into the fabric of American culture. It deserves a farewell tour. I would recommend this book for any Supernatural fan. But not the so-so watcher. I received this book from netgalley.

After reading Family Don't End with Blood I had to read this book as well. Once again the stories were wonderful and inspiring, and I loved reading all of them. Together, they perfectly described why Supernatural is such an amazing show, why the SPNFamily is the most wonderful fandom of all time, and most of all, why Supernatural will never truly end.

I simply loved it. All of it.

God, I loved this. As a fan of Supernatural for 15 years, this is such a beautiful love letter to the fans, to the show, characters, and the actors. I loved this so much and I can’t wait to have a physical copy of it.

(I recieved an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

This needs all the stars in the world. I am probably not able to critique it objectively, although given the fact that it is a bundle of interviews of real life people and not at all a fictional work, I don't even think it could be critiqued as such.
Being part of the fandom literally ever since I began to know I have a place in the world (I saw the first episode together with my mum in 2005, when I was literally 5 years old, and it traumatised me), Supernatural surely played a big role in my development as a person. After seeing that first episode, we rewatched it countless times, not keeping up with the show as it aired, only for me to be able to pick it up from the start again 8 years later and never stop since.
Now, Supernatural is about to end. The show is 15 years old and I'm 20. Besides my family, I don't think there's literally anything else that has lasted so much, that remained such a constant throughout my life.
This book made me cry. A whole lot. And I can't wait for the moment I'll hold it in my hand in physical form. It showed me how the fandom made so many people speak up and get out of the toxic relationships they had with themselves and with the world. I wish I had been more active in the fandom way back, it probably would've made me believe in myself and in my passions more, something I'd struggled with for my whole life.
Nonetheless, the show still empowered me. It is something I'll always keep in my heart and in my life. I am so glad this show exists. Because no matter if it ends this year, or the following year, it will keep existing. The SPNFamily will never end.
I recommend any die-hard Supernatural to read this book and I can't wait to get my hands on this one, as well as all the other books on this subject that are out there.

This collection of essays talking about the impact that Supernatural has had on its fanbase is amazing. Each essay, either written by the crew of Supernatural or by fans themselves, gives you a different perspective as to why the show has been so successful over its 15 year run. If you are a big fan of Supernatural, either from the beginning or any point during the show's run, this essay collection is a must read!

this really was a love letter to Supernatural, I had a great time reading this and would love another book in this style for other shows.