A creative take on a junk journal! I have a few creative in my life that this would be perfect for, and I love that the format allows for any manner or medium of creative and artistic response to the prompts. I'm hoping to get back into journalism and this was a good reminder to be myself with it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this sneak peek!

Great reflection journal. Worth taking time to write down your thoughts following various prompts. I got a few good tips that I might want to implement on my team as well. Thank you NetGalley and Familius for the ARC!

A really lovely little book full of interesting and thought provoking exercises. If you are new to journalling it can be difficult to know where to start and a book like this is perfect, you can pick and chooses what exercises you want to do and dip in and out of the book as you wish. All the exercises are designed to help you be more compassionate towards yourself and be more in tune with your faults and feelings. I really like the mixtures of activities, some are to draw or cut out as well as writing things down. I had an e-book copy and it's very easy to transfer most of the exercises to a notebook if you don't want to write in the actual book.

Loved the simple exercises in this journal, they got me thinking about my day, what made me angry, the things I love doing, what I tried and failed and also a nod to the call to express myself through a doodle, sketch, words...anything felt welcome.
Like the author says, it's designed to increase what psychologist's call self-compassion...and in such simple and warm ways.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

The Art of Imperfection feels less like a traditional self help book and more like a quiet space to land. Camilla Stark does not tell you how to fix yourself. Instead, she invites you to slow down and notice the parts of yourself you usually rush past or criticize. The tone is gentle, curious, and surprisingly comforting.

What makes this book stand out is how interactive it is. The prompts go beyond simple journaling and lean into creativity and imagination. You might write letters to different versions of yourself, mix emotions together like ingredients, or let go of old stories in symbolic ways. Some exercises feel playful while others quietly hit deep. None of them demand perfection, which feels very intentional.

The visuals add to the experience rather than distracting from it. The illustrations are simple and expressive, making the book feel warm and approachable. They help reinforce the idea that reflection does not have to be serious or heavy to be meaningful.

This is not a book you rush through in one sitting. It works best when you return to it slowly, opening it when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or just curious about yourself. It is especially helpful for anyone who struggles with self criticism or feels pressure to always have things figured out.

Overall, The Art of Imperfection is a reminder that growth does not come from being flawless. It comes from being honest, gentle, and willing to show up as you are. That message feels refreshing and genuinely needed.

The Art of Imperfection is a gentle, engaging book filled with creative prompts that invite reflection and self-kindness. It’s especially well suited to anyone who’s curious about journalling but feels unsure about how or where to begin. Rather than following a strict structure, the book allows you to move around freely, choosing the exercises that feel right for you at any given moment.

The activities are thoughtfully designed to encourage compassion towards yourself, helping you acknowledge your emotions and perceived flaws with greater understanding and care. I really appreciated the range of approaches — alongside writing prompts, there are exercises that involve drawing, collage, and other hands-on activities, which adds variety and keeps the experience fresh and accessible.

I used the e-book version and found it easy to adapt the exercises into my own notebook, so you don’t need to mark the book itself to benefit from it. Overall, this is a warm, supportive resource that makes self-reflection feel creative, flexible, and non-intimidating.

I was looking for a guided journal to start in 2026 and this was the perfect thing. I struggle a lot with treating myself how I treat others. it's simpler to treat others with compassion and sympathy than to offer those things to myself. this journal has helped me process why that is and find ways to show myself a bit more empathy and appreciation.

my favorite activity was 'people-watch' (probably because I already regularly do that, but as an autistic person myself, having to put myself into others' thoughts was a wonderful and mind-expanding experience).

the illustrations are wonderfully done and really feel like something you'd find in one of my childhood diary's pages.

This guided journal is perfect for individuals just starting to practice self-compassion or are interested in learning more about themselves! As a therapist, many of the prompts are connected to therapeutic interventions I’ve done with patients, but there were a handful of completely unique ones I loved! I will be recommending this to any of my patients willing to start a journaling practice or working to improve their self-compassion!

As a longtime curiosity of the question of imperfection as a reality we must face has been a quest and topic for exploration and teaching. This is another great title on my shelf along with some of the work of Berne Brown and Ernst Kurtz and Kathleen Ketcham. Check it out as our times require some clear-eyed thinking about the human condition and existential reality.