My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summary From Goodreads:
These famous words are now synonymous with the dynamic husband-and-wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. As this question fills the airwaves with anticipation, their legions of fans continue to multiply and ask a different series of questions, like—Who are these people? What’s the secret to their success? And is Chip actually that funny in real life? By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper, they have become America’s new best friends.
The Magnolia Story is the first book from Chip and Joanna, offering their fans a detailed look at their life together. From the very first renovation project they ever tackled together, to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them, to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today.
Plot:
Before I start this review, I have to say that I love Fixer Upper. Chip and Joanna Gaines are one of my real life role models, and as soon as I heard this book was out, I picked it up as soon as I could. I loved how this book was told like an oral story (if that makes any sense), and not like a professional novel. Which made it all the more fun. Also, it was super cool seeing Chip and Joanna squabble throughout this book, like it was a casual story-telling conversation. And it was so cool to hear the adventurous story that led up to the Fixer Upper we know and love today.
Characters:
Obviously, this is a story about the authors: Chip and Joanna Gaines. So there are only two characters I can actually talk about. Chip was sooo funny. He was popping jokes here and there that made me actually laugh out loud (books rarely do that). As I said above, it was fascinating to see their whole life story piece together. I would never have expected their life story to be so adventurous.
Overall & Recommendations:
This was such a cute, quirky story, telling how Joanna and Chip’s lives came together piece by piece. Anyone who watches Fixer Upper, this is a must read.
Memorable Quotes:
“Don’t quit, and don’t give up. The reward is just around the corner. And in times of doubt or times of joy, listen for that still, small voice. Know that God has been there from the beginning—and he will be there until . . . The End.”
“I realized that my determination to make things perfect meant I was chasing an empty obsession all day long. Nothing was ever going to be perfect the way I had envisioned it in the past. Did I want to keep spending my energy on that effort, or did I want to step out of that obsession and to enjoy my kids, maybe allowing myself to get messy right along with them in the process? I chose the latter – and that made all the difference.”
“It was such a blessing to find myself thriving in the middle of the pain. Unless you find a way to do that, there’s always going to be this fake illusion that once you get there–wherever “there” is for you–you’ll be happy. But that’s just not life. If you can’t find happiness in the ugliness, you’re not going to find it in beauty, either.”
“I mean, that’s life. Life is never predictable. Life is never really manageable. If your mind-set is always, “I’m just surviving”, it seems to me that would wind up being the mind-set for the rest of your life. You’d just get stuck in it.”
Kate's Bookish Library 