The Unofficial Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Without Losing Your Mind

Last fall, I was published in the anthology The Unofficial Guide to Surviving Life With Boys (edited by Tiffany and Lyndee from the blog #LifeWithBoys.) I wrote a funny story about the time my son asked me what a vagina looks like. When Tiffany and Lyndee were seeking submissions for a pregnancy anthology, I knew I had a story to tell here as well, albeit on a very different note.

The Unofficial Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Without Losing Your Mind is not your typical pregnancy book. There are stories in here that do talk about crazy pregnancy symptoms and there are some pieces of advice; however, more importantly, this book purposefully highlights just how unique and different each pregnancy actually is. More often than not, if you get pregnant, there will be a "thing" you have to deal with. And your thing, may not be the same as your other pregnant friends.

In this book, you will read the stories of 35 mamas (and one papa) about their "things." The good, the bad, the ugly, the hilarious, the hard, and the ultimately joyful "things" we went through while bringing little babies into this world.




My story is one of the more serious ones. It's about what pregnancy can feel like after multiple miscarriages. I've written about my story in bits and pieces, but this is the first time I've put my whole journey in one place. I cried multiple times writing and editing this piece, and while I will always love the vagina story, this one is much closer to my heart.

The Unofficial Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Without Losing Your Mind will hopefully make readers laugh and smile and understand that while we each experience pregnancy in different ways, we are all in this together.

You can purchase a copy for yourself (or for any upcoming baby showers you need to attend!) on Amazon. It's available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

Thank you always for your ongoing support, and I sincerely hope that whoever finds this book in their hands feels just how much all of the authors are cheering them on.

xo
Jenn

My Favourite Books With a 500+ Page Count

Even thought it's been a million degrees this September, so it doesn't feel like fall quite yet, one thing I love about autumn is curling up with books the size of beasts. I think I prefer big books over shorter books anytime of the year, but something about cooler temps makes holding a huge book feel even cozier.

I love getting completely lost in a story and going on a long journey with the characters. I want to be completely captivated in their world. I cheer them on and cry with them and never let them go. It's also why I probably love reading books in series so much as well.

Here are nine of my favourite books with a page count cresting 500 or more (and two others I have on my TBR!)

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving - If there is one book from my required high school reading that I will always remember, it is this one. Owen Meany is one of my favourite literary characters of all time. He will make you laugh, and cry, and question what you believe about fate.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - The paths of a German boy and a blind French girl collide during WWII. This is a side of World War II historical fiction that is not often told, and I loved it so much. All the Light We Cannot See is a powerful novel about the innate goodness inside of people.

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - The Heart's Invisible Furies follows the life of Cyril Avery. I love the structure of this book; you meet Cyril during his outrageous birth story and again every seven years. Set in Ireland when homosexuality was still illegal, Cyril is often at the mercy of fortune and coincidence throughout his life. A compelling read and tale of Ireland from the 1940s to today.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - A young, poor girl is sold into a high-end geisha house in Japan. She transforms into one of the most popular geisha of her time and reveals a world of full illusion and power struggles. A fascinating read, and the movie is also very well done.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - This is definitely my favourite Kate Morton novel. Two women, generations apart, try to solve the same haunting family mystery. The Forgotten Garden is a sweeping tale across two continents. I also love the special book of fairy tales which gives this novel a story within a story feeling.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - An untraditional love story with a romantic time travelling librarian. This novel is a testament to the power of never-ending love.

The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman - A collection of Neil Gaiman's non-fiction work. While it was trickier for me to connect with some of his pieces on older science fiction works, I absolutely love his essays on libraries and reading life.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas - If you follow me on Instagram, it's no secret that I love Sarah J. Maas. She is the author of two fantasy series, and I adore them both. Of all of the books I've read from her, A Court of Mist and Fury is my favourite. She is no stranger to BIG books and fantastic world-building. Her upcoming release, Kingdom of Ash, is clocking in with a page count of 992!!

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling - I sincerely have never been able to answer the question, "What is your favourite Harry Potter book?" because I really find them all enjoyable. Though, one of my top picks is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because I love the tournament in the book. Which Harry Potter novel is your favourite??

On my TBR:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - I feel like I am the last book blogger left who hasn't at least tried the Outlander series. I suspect I will love it and am determined to read it this winter!

The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas - I don't know much about this one, but it came in a subscription box of mine earlier this year, and I love books about books!

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz - This is an Agatha Christie inspired crime novel I also received in a subscription box. There is a story written within this story, so that sounds interesting!

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielweski - My sister gifted this book to me last Christmas, and apparently it's a terrifying and strange story told in basically every format you can think of. Some of the pages are regular text, sometimes it's a play, sometimes it's footnotes, etc. I have no idea what to think of this one!

What are some of your favourite door-stopper books?
xo
Jenn