Always weary of 'self-help' books these days as everyone thinks they are an expert but I did enjoy this...not too lengthy and easy to read however a little repetitive in the information.

Like most people, my confidence fluctuates on a regular basis, and though I've become more confident as I've got older (or perhaps just better at faking it?), there's still a lot of room for improvement, particularly at work.

I was really very favourably impressed, more than I expected to be, with Kate McGuinness's book, which is approachable, practical and realistic. The chapters are fairly short and filled with achievable advice, tools and tips both specific (for instance, interview techniques) and general (for instance, self-compassion) - some of which are familiar and some which I've literally never heard before but will definitely try. Kate is a great advocate of mindfulness, and I must confess I'm one of those people who tends to roll their eyes at what sounds like a trendy buzzword, but I actually think she has me convinced. (I even downloaded an app!) She provides a lot of useful links, too, regarding the areas discussed.

There's a lot about Kate's own life and the experiences which have shaped her (and possibly rather too many mentions of the legal thriller she wrote - I won't be forgetting the title any time soon - but that's a minor gripe).

It's worth mentioning - because I'm not sure it's on the cover or in the blurb - that the book is specifically aimed at women, and Kate (who was formerly a hotshot lawyer and now has her own coaching practice) is clearly passionate about empowering women.

I'll definitely come back to this book in future for inspiration and encouragement. The epigraph, a quote from Carl Jung, sums it up, I think:

"I am not what has happened to me. I am what I choose to become."

There's not much here that hasn't been said elsewhere--and the author does credit sources like Brene Brown and Kelly McGonigal. She also inserts her own story a lot, which got to be a little repetitive. Still, I'm sure there are folks out there who need this now, especially if dealing with job loss.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

I really enjoyed reading this, at first I was a bit like 'another book on confidence' however I liked that fact that the author explained the difference between the confidence of men and women and is easy to read and relatable. I love the techniques within the book that you can utilise too.

I really enjoyed this book on confidence. I like that it explained the differences between men's confidence and women's. I also like how it showed how each gender can gain confidence in their own way. I found ghis very insightful.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Empowering. Inspiring. Relatable. Practical. Achievable.
Loved this book.
Written so well and it is so relatable even if I don’t have the funds available to take such huge steps the basic premise is there for you to use and build on.
So many of these books are either boring or dictatorial and this is definitely not either.
I have taken a lot from this book and have and will recommend it.
So grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy thank you. This one will stay with me.

Thank you, Netgalley and Two XX Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am so glad I requested this book as it is one of the best non-fiction, self-help books that I've come across. This is one easily readable and also very practical to follow through and that makes it more beneficial to the readers. As someone who has struggled with self-confidence and still at times falters in terms of confidence this book came at a time of immense demand in my life. This book gives us easy-to-follow plans and exercises that can be readily incorporated into our daily routine to give us the perfect amount of boost to our confidence. Kate McGuinness helps us with techniques to silence our inner critic and also curb the perfectionist tendencies that will thwart our progress towards attaining a confident self. Giving us her life story helped connect to her struggles and made this book even more relatable. There are exercises to help with our attitude and also simultaneously practice self-compassion and assertiveness to grow our confidence. The book is deeply rooted in science to make use of the power of neuroplasticity. The well-formulated plans and mindfulness techniques are simple and easy to do and I loved learning about new tools that I can use in different scenarios and come out of them successfully. Overall, this book is one I would highly recommend to women and urge them to pick it up as it is well-written and manageable for people who have busy lives. I gave the book 5 stars. Check this book out to learn something new to boost your confidence and become a better version of yourself.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.
I highly recommend this excellent book for all that need to gain confidence. The author has written a smart insightful book that has chapters that apply to men and women. There is much material here to choose from and apply to your own life. This is not your average self help book and the author does not preach to the reader. Here are techniques you can incorporate to help you gain confidence in your personal life, in your career and relationships. Many of the author's helpful suggestions are sensible and easy to apply to our lives. I recommend this book very highly and it would make a great gift especially for young women. Very good read that I highly recommend.

A well written, easy to read book. Part autobiographical and part self help. I found it insightful and thoughtful and although my finances don't run to a California lodge nor training in a new career there are still many points that make it very relevant.

An interesting read. Would be a good purchase for late teens and young adults. Some useful suggestions and the authors own stories help to make the ideas more relate able.

The author has created a guidebook that is a must-read for this current age when so many of us can't go to work, are furloughed, laid off, and also -- the forgotten group -- searching for work. You get smart insights about what confidence is, the difference between men's and women's confidence, how self-esteem works in there as a different little pocket. I found the author to be so open and relatable about how she initially lost her confidence, and she shares such realism about her comeback, growth and excelling. It's very generous of her to take us on this journey, and I got a lot out of it. I'll hang on to this book and read through it again to surely glean new insights as I grow. Excellent for anyone in business on any level, or studying to get there.

Great read with lot of information. Would recommend to people around me and colleagues.
The book provides useful advice that can be used in every day life

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A well written book about the importance of achieving confidence through the usage of mindful meditation. Found it useful and informative. Didn't realize it was going to center mostly on meditation but it had several intriguing ideas.

It's hard to say this book helped me by reading because if you've read it, you'll know there are steps to take, journaling, etc which all take time.

However, I really liked her style of writing. It isn't "preachy" and I loved that she explains how she lost her confidence. It just makes it more relatable to me. I also found the science of men vs. Women very interesting when she discussed the testosterone levels and estrogen levels which explains why women naturally have more anxiety, etc.

I suffer from lack of confidence and although this book did not make me feel like Miss Amerca it did open my eyes to things I need to do to make a change.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review .

Unlike some self help books Confidence Lost/Confidence Found is extremely useful. This book gives more than standards cliches and instead gives practical tips and offering science behind them. This is much more than your cliche self help book.

I for one have suffered from lost confidence in the past and found this book extremely relatable and useful. Having gone from high flying lawyer to questioning her self worth, Kate reflects on her own experiences to help others.

Not only do I love the summaries at the end of each chapter meaning I have something to refer back to but also you are signposted to further resources if you want to learn or work more on specific aspects discussed.

All in all, a very empowering read and I believe we can all take something from this book.

this was a very quick and easy read and one i would definitely recommend. i found it very helpful and jotted down tons of thoughts.

Confidence Lost/Confidence Found by Kate McGuinness is an excellent book which would benefit all women to read. The content is relevant in all spheres of life and does not just apply to working women, although section 4 relates specifically to workplace related situations. The author explains why women are biologically pre-disposed to being less confident than men and so I understand why she has aimed it at one gender, but I think that men too would gain from reading it.

The book is well set out in five sections including areas such as resilience, assertiveness and self-compassion and the author approaches each with knowledge and sensitivity. Every chapter ends with a list of key points and readers are regularly directed to the Resources section at the back, as well as the author's own website. Confidence Lost/Confidence Found is interspersed with Kate McGuinness' own personal experiences, as well as other expert opinions. The author provides numerous strategies and suggestions for changes that the reader is able to incorporate into their lives, to enhance and improve their well-being whilst simultaneously boosting confidence. I found the section on how to 'evaluate negative relationships' useful as it made me aware of how easy it is to inadvertently contribute to the negativity of others by making comments that risk eliciting a toxic response.

I really like Kate's style of writing and even though this is a self-help book, there is no preaching; it is like receiving advice from a friend. Much of the advice is common sense, for example nutrition and breathing techniques but the mention of neuroplasticity was new to me. Kate emphasises how it is not necessary to introduce numerous changes at once but better to focus on one area and build up gradually. The book is designed so that the reader is able to dip in and out of individual sections that are most relevant for their own situation and the author reiterates how repetition is the key to changing one's behaviour. There are frequent references to mindfulness and self-compassion,

I felt that some sections, like Chapter 12 - which discusses automatic negative thoughts and silencing the inner critic - were more about well-being and self-esteem than confidence but I suppose you could argue that the two go hand in hand. I wasn't too sure about sending a thank-you note following a job interview that was suggested in Chapter 17. Also, I'm not keen on the title. It would deter me from gifting the book, for fear of implying that the recipient lacked confidence and that I was criticising or judging her. I suggested to my eighteen year old daughter that she might be interested in taking a look but as soon as she heard the title, she declined.

Personally, I highly recommend this book and it is definitely one that will be good to refer back to again and again, simply because of the wealth of information that it contains. I believe that we oould all enhance our lives by reading it. Thank-you very much to Two XX Press and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this copy.

Confidence Lost, Confidence Found: How to Reclaim the Unstoppable You by Kate McGuinness

The book was a quick and easy read. The information and suggestions were fairly basic. The book starts with information about what confidence is and the difference between confidence in men and women.

I liked the Key Points at the end of each chapter that summarized the main points and provided strategies.

The chapter on Authenticity: Counterfeiting Robs Your Confidence Bank was my favorite. The chapter provided strategies to identify and accept your true self, getting to know your values, listening to your body, etc. I especially liked the section on Avoid Telling Stories to Yourself and how we respond and think can actually make matters worse.

Overall, it was a good book with some practical insights and suggestions. Confidence Lost, Confidence Found is a book I may refer to from time to time in the future.

#ConfidenceLostConfidenceFound #NetGalley @ibpa