This was such a great memoir. I wanted to read it because I love love love books about farms or making a big life change and moving to a quieter place. Full disclosure: I've never seen One Tree Hill, so my interest in this memoir was purely because of the "rural" aspect.

There are so many great things about reading this story, but the becoming-a-farmer aspect was my favorite. Hilarie begins the story after One Tree Hill, at the beginning of her relationship with Jeffrey Dean Morgan. She talks of their common interests and their shared dream of starting over somewhere else. I could tell that they both wanted (and felt) a connection to their new place in rural New York, not far from New York City, and I could tell they really wanted to build things and put their hands in the dirt.

There is so much nature in here-I loved it so much. There is also a lot of food and renovation. Hilarie shares about projects she took on that were successful and she talks about projects that didn't turn out so well. She talks about finding a small community and really digging into it, and I found that I really like all of her friends. She talks openly about hard things that happened in her life, and she talks about the best things that have happened to her. The entire memoir is threaded with friendships and parenting, and all of it made my heart warm.

Really, this was the perfect read for me during this #stayathome time. This was my "immediately-before-bedtime" book and I was careful to dole it out in small portions over an entire month. I'm here for every story like this, stories where a person makes a goal and achieves it. Especially when it involves home renovation, gardening, and animals. I think that fans of Hilarie and Jeff will love this one, but I was able to connect to it in a huge way even without having seen them in the shows and movies that they are famous for. There is a lot of vulnerability and heart in this book, and it was an immensely enjoyable and uplifting read.

As one of the biggest #OneTreeHill fans I was THRILLED to get my hands on the one and only @hilarieburton aka Peyton Sawyer’s #memoir. I will be the first to tell you that this #book was so refreshing, honest, down to earth, and so full of fun and joy. Go get your copy when it’s released on 05/05/2020!!! •

First off - Did everyone know that Hilarie is married to Denny from Grey’s Anatomy/Negan from The Walking Dead? Her stories of her whirlwind romance and newlywed, long-distance relationship with Jeffrey Dean Morgan were relatable, hilarious, and endearing. Combined with their struggles to have a second child and raising their first, beautiful son amidst Hollywood and moving to rural New York, you will fall in love with this family and some of their bestfriends, including Paul Rudd and his wife. •

Hilarie is super honest about the abuse experienced on the set of One Tree Hill, as well as her family moving to rural New York and quite literally learning the ropes of farm life, as they remodeled a home, brought in alpacas, cows, chickens, and a horde of other pets and cattle, and met lifelong friends and business partners in small town America. •

In an ironic twist, Hilarie’s discussions about the way that Hallmark and its movies allowed her to embrace her feminine power and really be invoked with producing, acting, and her career in a way that was positive, motivating and rewarding, was so refreshing and moving. •

I could not get enough of Hilarie and her stories, and as an added bonus there’s plenty of real-life home advice, remodeling tips, and plenty of her favorite cocktails, recipes, and all natural remedies. •

Peyton Sawyer is the coolest, but Hilarie Burton Morgan is the real romodel and icon. •

Raise your hand if you’re obsessed with music and used to record Total Request Live on MTV (on a VHS tape, gasp!). 🙋🏼‍♀️ Hilarie Burton was one of the hosts of that show so that’s what originally drew me to her book, not to mention the gorgeous cover. 🌈 It was a breath of fresh air from all the thrillers I’ve been reading lately and I’m now patiently waiting for an invite to Mischief Farm. 😉 Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy! 📚

Hilarie Burton Morgan’s THE RURAL DIARIES is a beautiful, earthy hug that wraps the reader in memories of days gone by, reminding us of the simpler days. Stories of hard work, perseverance, love and community are the underlying theme. The stories that Hilarie tells about Mischief Farm, remind me of my days in Upstate NY where life was simpler, community was huge and spending time with family, friends and the earth is a way of life. ~ Heather, White Hot Reads

This may be my favorite celebrity memoir of all time. I wasn't familiar with Hilarie before reading this book, so I was able to come to it with a different perspective: the quality of the writing. I loved every bit of it, as Hilarie paints such engaging and immersive pictures of her life on the farm, her challenges and path in falling in love and making a family. I especially loved her sense of community, and being open to all new people, seeing who you really are in their presence. So many layers of wonderful to love here. I'm taking her advice and planning to make her recipes. This is a stellar book. Highly recommended.

The Rural Diaries is proof that everyone has a story to tell. I’m not really concerned that it was written by Hilarie Burton from One Tree Hill fame – although my teenage daughter thinks that’s pretty cool. Personally, I love that the author seems like the girl next door, a woman that I would easily embrace as a friend. She tells personal stories about falling in love, having a child, problems with fertility, family dynamics, friendships, and death. But the stories that enthrall me involve making a home in a cabin and then eventually developing Mischief Farm.

Remodeling rooms, planting gardens, birthing animals – I loved it all. The little things like saving spent marigolds and giving away the seeds, planting Creeping Jenny because you loved it growing up, and finally giving in to planting Forsythia because your husband insists. Burton works hard to cultivate her home, and can thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the fruits of her labor. I love those character traits. She is also enamored with the little things and she brings you into the magic of those moments. Like I mentioned, I can really see being her friend – helping her with her garden and having her help with mine, sipping tea and exploring the wonder of homesteading, friendship, life. It would be fun!

This homage to the simple life caught my attention in a NetGalley email. Then I read chapter 1 and realized that Hilarie's mother and I both grew up in Pella, Iowa. Like Hilarie I have a great fondness for that little corner of Iowa and have beloved relatives who still reside there. It was fascinating to read about the transformation of Hilarie & Jeff's family from LA dwellers to farmers. As with all of our lives, there are times of triumph, times of laughter, and times for tears. I was drawn in and engaged for most of the book --just felt like there were a few times when there was just too much detail on one particular piece (like when they took over the sweet shop). I also don't know if they ever did officially tie the knot? Anyway, I would heartily recommend this on audio -- especially if you are a fan of Hilarie from One Tree Hill, Lethal Weapon, or one of her many other acting gigs.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I really had second thoughts about this book. What could an actress tell me - a rural, farm living, country life loving Librarian - about living on a rural farm.

Well apparently lots! Loved this book - loved the people of Rhinebeck - but mostly love the way the author lives and loves every minute of every day! Great feel good book - I think I may read it again!!

But maybe this isn't a good thing - everybody may want to come live on a farm in the country!!

I absolutely adore this woman. I stole my daughter’s name from a character she played that I connected to so deeply. When I heard she was writing a book I knew I had to read it. This is a book of raw truths. No glossy I’m famous bullshit. A struggling relationship, owning a candy store, being a mom, assault & abuse, farming, death, small town charm, charity work, recipes (!), miscarriages and depression. Seeing a glimpse into her and Jeffrey’s life and time together was a rollercoaster. I read this in two short days because I could not get enough!! I can now easily say that I’m sure I love her. The bravery and heart in this story are breathtaking.

“I want to move to the countryside and have a farm w chickens and cows and live off the land but also with some technology.”

This was my first thoughts upon finishing The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan. I initially picked up the book while browsing NetGalley and requesting an ARC. I don’t keep up with the actress who was made famous from One Tree Hill (and that one video of Ben Affleck groping her on TRL that went live a couple years ago).

I watched One Tree Hill in high school, as it was a soapy high school drama, complete with marriage and pregnancy under the age of twenty. The actors from the show seem to have disappeared, and not done as highly-rated projects since. However, I’m also a Grey’s Anatomy lover, and I knew that the author had married a recurring guest star from the hit doctor show, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who played Denny.

Basically, I didn’t know what to expect when I opened up the book on my Kindle. I wanted something to take me away from the crazy world of COVID-19, and it did just that.

This memoir takes you to a sprawling farm in upstate New York, where the Burton Morgan family now resides. It takes you through her upbringing in a rural household, the meeting of her husband, and her decision to lead a quieter life on a farm.

Never have I wanted chickens and llamas in my backyard so badly. With fun farm recipes interspersed throughout the book, the tone was light, even with a few downturns.

Link to my full goodreads review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3240412945

This was such a delight to read! Hilarie's voice is so genuine, and unlike any other celebrity memoir I've read. In fact, I don't usually like reading celebrity memoirs, because there is always an underlying aspect of ego to them, the idea that "I'm famous so you should want to read my book." That aspect is totally lacking here, It is evident that Hilarie enjoys being a real person, and loves her family, her farm, her animals, and all of those things, make me feel like I know her in real life. I loved the recipes (totally making dandelion wine) and the idea that your dream is yours to lose, or yours to gain, all depending on your perspective.

I breezed through it and was quite sad for it to end. If she ever writes another book, I would totally read it. It was a privilege to journey with Hilarie as she bore her heart and soul for us.

Going in to this book, I had no idea what to expect. I follow Hilario Burton on social media and have read about her Mischief Farm, but was curious what she might actually write about being that she has always been very private about her life. But I am a lover of celebrity memoirs and a HB fan, so I knew I had to read it.

I loved the way she went about writing her life. She opens the book with a clear promise: “ So, folks, this is a love letter. To a town. To a farm. To a man.” Beautiful.

And that’s exactly what this book is.

She doesn’t name drop throughout and she doesn’t try to slander or defame anyone, even though she very clearly could have from her early on acting experiences. Which I respect the heck out of. She starts the book after One Tree Hill and just before she met Jeffrey Dean Morgan. While her writing follows the path of their relationship, she does not attempt to follow the path of their career. In fact at time, she would say where he was working and I would rush over to IMDB just to find out what movie it was because she didn’t drop the name. It was actually refreshing coming from a celebrity.

In fact, their jobs could have been anything, because the book wasn’t at all about their jobs. They came up momentarily of course. But the point of the book was exactly as she stated in the introduction: relationships.

It’s basically one big love story to their falling in love with each other and with small town farm living.

There are garden tips throughout, even some recipes. Some of the moments were hilarious. Some were tearful. So don’t think that just because she is private and doesn’t share all the hot OTH gossip that she doesn’t crack open her heart, because my oh my, she does. Beautifully. Soulfully. But graciously. Even how she handles the Me Too movement toward the end of the book was done with such grace.

Honestly, the book made me enjoy her all the more. They both come across so very down to earth—well aware that they are well off enough to buy a sweet shop on a whim and renovate it to keep its legacy, but also aware enough to do the work themselves and feel like real people in the process.

I enjoyed it and hope Hilarie writes more. All my best to their small town, heartfelt endeavors and to their lovely family!

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I really enjoyed this memoir. I love the idea of buying a farm (though I probably never would.) This sucked me in!! Hilarie was honest and refreshing in her opinions. She is a great storyteller and it made for an entertaining, unputdownable read. This is one of those celebrity memoirs I'll be recommending (bonus for the depth and charm!)

I feel like I grew up with Hilarie Burton. From MTV and One Tree Hill to all of the Lifetime and Hallmark movies, seeing Hilarie has always felt like a warm hug from a childhood friend. In the Rural Diaries, Hilarie provides an intimate look at her life as she navigates Los Angeles, meets her husband, and ultimately moves full-time to the Hudson Valley of New York. Her "return to nature" in the form of a log cabin and then ultimately Mischief Farm was inspiring. I loved how she did not stray away from discussing her failures. I think one of the most striking aspects of her story was discovering her resilience and ability to press on even when the road ahead was rocky or completely unknown. Getting a glimpse of her family life and friends, who seemed more like family at times, was a pleasure and reminder that community can be such a magical thing. Overall, I'm left with a renewed love for Hilarie and desire to just try! With that in mind, I will share my favorite quote from the book: "Try. The want-to creates the how-to. And if all else fails, just fake it. But for God's sake, at least try".

The type of celebrity memoir that I want more of! It read a lot like Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle but with a dash of #metoo.

I have been so intrigued by Hilarie Burton's farm life since I started following her on Instagram, so I was very excited to read a book about it. This book was definitely mostly about her relationship and farm life, so people looking for info about One Tree Hill will likely be disappointed. I loved hearing about farm life and all the animals and plants she learned to take care of. I also think her descriptions of heartbreaks and her relationship were very relatable and sweet. I really enjoyed this book.

"The Rural Diaries" was a huge change of pace for me reading wise but I'm so glad I picked up this book. I had never heard of Hilarie Burton (I never watched One Tree Hill or any of her other shows/movies" but was very intrigued by the teaser of this book. It tells the story of Hilarie Burton Morgan and her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan, two Hollywood actors who met, fell in love and made their home base in Rhinebeck, Upstate New York.

While visiting Rhinebeck, Hilarie and Jeffrey fell in love with the town and surrounding area. They met several people who helped them find their first home in the area. Later, they decided to put down even more roots by purchasing their own working 70 acre farm in the area full of flowers, livestock and vegetables. She brings to life farm life with one foot in Hollywood while the other is raising alpacas, chickens and other animals on her farm.

This couple had ups and downs, time apart and so much going on during the time period in this biography, The book shows a Hollywood couple as real people who have real lives. It was also fun to read about their friendship with Paul Rudd and his wife as well as how they all integrated into town life in the Rhinebeck. They show a real investment into the town and a philanthropic heart while supporting a local children's home.

I liked how HIlarie isn't afraid to get her hands dirty cleaning a toilet and let her hair go gray as she mentioned in this book. She gets real about her own life and the struggles and joys she has in her relationship with Jeffrey.

I can't say enough on how I couldn't put this book down once I started to read it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by any outside source.

Very charming! This is a enjoyable look at small town life. When an actress decides to give up her successful career and buy a small farm in Rheinbeck, NY, things get predictably interesting. Having owned a small farm in upstate NY, I found this book charming and original. Jumping in with both feet, she buys chickens, alpacas and a candy store in their small town, This girl is an overachiever! But youth and an optimistic personality come through for her in the end. Charming book, fun read.

"The Rural Diaries" was such a good find during a time of uncertainty and stress. Hilarie Burton's narration of her life and times is warm, funny, and full of vinegar. From discussing her experiences with toxic work environments at MTV and on "One Tree Hill," to her sharing difficulties during pregnancy, to describing the journey to finding a place where she truly belongs, Burton shares her life and life's work with a mischievous twinkle and a sisterly voice that captivates. Personally, I laughed out loud, cringed a few times, and felt empathy for Burton's own heartache and grief, feeling her narrative voice as a kindred spirit. If you need a reminder of how worth it the human search for belonging could someday be, "The Rural Diaries" will motivate you to keep the faith.

Hilarie Burton has written an absolute gem of a read, filled with compelling and witty stories of life on the farm. I always liked her as an actress but she might be an even better storyteller, detailing her life with husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan and her son on a working farm, raising animals and all the richness of small town life and the people she meets along the way.
Even better, she includes some of her favorite recipes, and there are great pictures as well!