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christinevellis's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
pontmercying's review
5.0
One of the best books on adulting healthily I've ever read. Would highly recommend to anyone.
lisac87881's review
5.0
There are no words for how much I adored this book. I will apply it to my everyday life.
meganmagicmusings's review
4.0
This review was originally posted here on my blog, Magic & Musings.
* Thank you, thank you, thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of Laura's new book. All opinions are my own and, come on, was I ever going to not love this? *
PRAISE THE GRECIAN GODS ABOVE, LAURA HAS A NEW BOOK AND I CAN HOLD IT IN MY TINY HANDS.
Laura, Laura, Laura. You know, Laura? If you don't, you should.
If you've been reading my blog since June last year, you'll know how much I loved Laura's book Becoming (review here!). Now, this book is incredibly different from her previous publication, but still boasts her wonderfully compelling, friendly, and strong voice. As you'll probably pick up reading through this post, I bloody love reading Laura's writing. There's something about it that just works for me. It's easy but complex, and not like anything I could attempt to write. She makes me want to try harder.
After releasing Becoming, Laura admits that she fell into a place where she could no longer write. She was anxious and depressed, no longer feeling the high of reaching her dream of getting a book published. So she became a nanny, earning some money and taking some time out. Ice Cream for Breakfast is a collection of life lessons she believes we should all follow that she learned during this time looking after three lovely little girls. Each chapter outlines one thing she learned from the girls, one event that caused her to realise a truth about life, and gives you ideas on how to implement that lesson yourself into your everyday existence. Some of these truths are ridiculously fun, some are a lot more serious. Allow yourself to be angry and then let it pass, speak the truth even when you think you shouldn't, laugh like you mean it, dream ridiculously big, forgive, adventure, improvise, love endlessly... Our bullshit adult problems are just that. Bullshit. Where did we learn that it's all got to be so bloody serious?
Much like Becoming, I sped through this at breakneck speed and now feel a little sad that, once again, I have ingested all of Laura's catalogue of writing. I'm always on her blog, reading through her updates, relishing in her voice and the tales she has to tell. She's pretty much one of my literary idols at this point. I fortunately now have the absolute joy of having a place booked on one of Laura's writing workshops. I've heard a lot about them, and they seem to draw in such a wonderful, inspiring selection of women. New friends, new ideas, new confidence! Stay tuned.
Ice Cream for Breakfast will be released by Hodder & Stoughton on April 20th. You can read more about Laura's reasons for writing it in her initial blog post announcing the book, as she'll do a better job than me! I really urge you to pick this up if you're facing any sort of life uncertainty, or feel like you've stopped having fun.
* Thank you, thank you, thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of Laura's new book. All opinions are my own and, come on, was I ever going to not love this? *
PRAISE THE GRECIAN GODS ABOVE, LAURA HAS A NEW BOOK AND I CAN HOLD IT IN MY TINY HANDS.
Laura, Laura, Laura. You know, Laura? If you don't, you should.
If you've been reading my blog since June last year, you'll know how much I loved Laura's book Becoming (review here!). Now, this book is incredibly different from her previous publication, but still boasts her wonderfully compelling, friendly, and strong voice. As you'll probably pick up reading through this post, I bloody love reading Laura's writing. There's something about it that just works for me. It's easy but complex, and not like anything I could attempt to write. She makes me want to try harder.
After releasing Becoming, Laura admits that she fell into a place where she could no longer write. She was anxious and depressed, no longer feeling the high of reaching her dream of getting a book published. So she became a nanny, earning some money and taking some time out. Ice Cream for Breakfast is a collection of life lessons she believes we should all follow that she learned during this time looking after three lovely little girls. Each chapter outlines one thing she learned from the girls, one event that caused her to realise a truth about life, and gives you ideas on how to implement that lesson yourself into your everyday existence. Some of these truths are ridiculously fun, some are a lot more serious. Allow yourself to be angry and then let it pass, speak the truth even when you think you shouldn't, laugh like you mean it, dream ridiculously big, forgive, adventure, improvise, love endlessly... Our bullshit adult problems are just that. Bullshit. Where did we learn that it's all got to be so bloody serious?
Much like Becoming, I sped through this at breakneck speed and now feel a little sad that, once again, I have ingested all of Laura's catalogue of writing. I'm always on her blog, reading through her updates, relishing in her voice and the tales she has to tell. She's pretty much one of my literary idols at this point. I fortunately now have the absolute joy of having a place booked on one of Laura's writing workshops. I've heard a lot about them, and they seem to draw in such a wonderful, inspiring selection of women. New friends, new ideas, new confidence! Stay tuned.
Ice Cream for Breakfast will be released by Hodder & Stoughton on April 20th. You can read more about Laura's reasons for writing it in her initial blog post announcing the book, as she'll do a better job than me! I really urge you to pick this up if you're facing any sort of life uncertainty, or feel like you've stopped having fun.
hellokitty's review
5.0
When I picked this book up, the thing that made me want to keep reading was Williams' honest writing and sense of humour throughout.
I did not agree with some of the advice itself, but in general found most of it incredibly helpful.
The main chapter that helped me was the chapter on sleep.
I was worrying a lot about sleep at the time of reading this book. I still do to some extent.
Anyway, I was very apprehensive about reading the chapter on it, expecting the same advice about getting eight hours of sleep, at the time, I was lucky to get five or six.
Although the author did talk about how she needs eight hours, she did mention that it is different for everyone.
I did not feel like a failure or condemned. I actually read this chapter before bed and it left me with a feeling of calm and I slept very well that night.
It was my favourite chapter in the book.
I loved the conclusion to the book.
Maybe it's because my conclusions to essays are really bad and I just sum up what I've said, but the author managed to sum up what she said in a way that connected with the rest of what she was saying about how she never expected to write this book.
I probably explained that in the worst way, but I really adored the conclusion.
Overall, I really liked this book. I agreed with the author's points and I am really hoping to put being more childlike into practice.
I did not agree with some of the advice itself, but in general found most of it incredibly helpful.
The main chapter that helped me was the chapter on sleep.
I was worrying a lot about sleep at the time of reading this book. I still do to some extent.
Anyway, I was very apprehensive about reading the chapter on it, expecting the same advice about getting eight hours of sleep, at the time, I was lucky to get five or six.
Although the author did talk about how she needs eight hours, she did mention that it is different for everyone.
I did not feel like a failure or condemned. I actually read this chapter before bed and it left me with a feeling of calm and I slept very well that night.
It was my favourite chapter in the book.
I loved the conclusion to the book.
Maybe it's because my conclusions to essays are really bad and I just sum up what I've said, but the author managed to sum up what she said in a way that connected with the rest of what she was saying about how she never expected to write this book.
I probably explained that in the worst way, but I really adored the conclusion.
Overall, I really liked this book. I agreed with the author's points and I am really hoping to put being more childlike into practice.
rebeccasheehy's review
5.0
"Forgiving others – and forgetting about it – isn’t about excusing them so much as allowing ourselves peace. When we forgive, it’s easier to be happy or productive. Bearing a grudge can strip us of our dignity, in many ways – letting resentment fester is a sort of mental trap. Letting resentment fester is a sure-fire way to let it grow, too. Holding it in gives it oxygen, so it keeps burning. Letting it go can extinguish the flame. When we feel disempowered after we’ve been wronged, sometimes the only way to claim our power back is to set the terms of forgiveness – for ourselves. Not for them. We hold our heads higher when it’s us who have decided to move on. And we’re allowed to do that. Move on."
Some brilliant life advice from Laura Jane Williams!
Some brilliant life advice from Laura Jane Williams!
franceswilde95's review
4.0
This was actually pretty informal, laid-back, genuinely funny, informative and reassuring- exceeded my expectations so much!
luelle_'s review
5.0
Laura Jane is my favourite person on instagram and I am so delighted that the first book of hers I've read was as much of a joy as this one. Burnout and rediscovery are not fun or comfortable topics but this was a fun and comfortable read. If ice cream took the form of a book it may literally become this one. Much loved, much recommended.