As usual, I’ll start this review with a confession. I’m a sucker for shoes. Heels, pumps, flats, sandals, flip flops, wedges, sneakers, boots and anything else that sounds even remotely like something that belongs on my feet. So when I had the opportunity to review a book entitled, “Must Love Shoes,” I was like, duh!
When I read other reviews of this book, I knew it was something I just had to read for myself. So, I got on the horn and contacted the author. I heard back from Julie almost immediately. Even through e-mail, her personality jumped from the computer screen and I instantaneously felt “normal.” I mean, let’s face it: When you’re communicating with a professional speaker whose client list includes Merrill Lynch, US Department of Commerce and Women in Defense, it can be a little intimidating! But Julie has a way with words that left me feeling as if we had known each other for years … which had me on the edge of my seat awaiting the delivery of her book!
I received the book within a couple of days – autographed of course. Oh, but Julie … the whole purpose of our blog is that you can’t “bribe” us to write a good review! So, as friendly and efficient as Julie was thus far, it did her no good if I didn’t enjoy the book! For the record, this kindness of Julie’s is not to say that she WAS bribing us. Just to be clear on that point.
The book is 132 pages including title pages and spacers, so I knew it would be a quick read. Luckily, I had some time right at that moment (I broke my ankle a few weeks back and was confined to the sofa for quite some time, but that’s a-WHOLE-nother blog post). The moment of truth! I began reading the book and instantly realized it was a blog … in book form. Perfect! I love reading blogs!
Each chapter is a small personal story from Julie. The chapters are literally like 3-4 pages long which makes the reading fly by. I got 45 minutes into the book and realized I was halfway done with it! Every time I got to the end of a chapter, I was like, “Well, the next chapter is only a few pages long so I might as well just do one more.” At 1 hour, I forced my fiance to begin making dinner so I could keep reading. I also had that broken ankle as an excuse to pawn responsibility off onto a more capable person.
Julie Gaver gets wonderfully personal and has absolutely no problem making fun of herself, which I find humbling and humorous. Especially after breaking my ankle after tripping on NOTHING during a flag football game. Even though my teammates never found it, I SWEAR there was a hole in the ground.
Each chapter of “Must Love Shoes” tells a different story with a different message. After finishing the book in one hour and fifteen minutes, here’s a short list of 10 things I walked away with after reading this book:
- State troopers will NOT weigh you.
- The reason I don’t have eyes in the back of my head is because humans weren’t meant to see their own asses.
- If someone sporting a whistle gives you the stink eye, just leave the premises before you’re thrown out.
- I’m not the only one whose undergarments have left me speechless.
- Hopping into the wrong car in the parking lot is, indeed COMPLETELY normal.
- Sometimes you just get lucky.
- “Bajeebas” is a word.
- There is no better time to find your voice than right now.
- Even though my kids are teens and driving me absolutely bonkers, they’ll be gone from the house one day.
- Call your Aunt Carol as often as you can.
Perhaps this list doesn’t make sense to you. Which is why you should read this book. Want to know more about the book before you spend your hard earned $14.95? Check out the website at http://mustloveshoesthebook.com. The best part about this site? If you want more of Julie’s clever and witty little tid bits, there’s MUCH more on her blog! Enough that it will take you MUCH longer than one hour to read them! You can also find Julie on Facebook and Twitter.
While I did receive this product free from the author, I would highly recommend you get a copy of this book for your friends, sisters, moms, aunts and anyone else who can appreciate the humor, humility and honor of being a woman. And I’m not just saying that because I like Julie. It really is a darn good book. Obviously, I give “Must Love Shoes” a rating of 5 Cups of Joe.