Reading this book felt like I was reading about myself and my own moods - to the T. I have recently started looking more into my gut health as it has been determined my brain and belly do not communicate well with one another. I took notes and have recommended this book to several people.

I wanted to love this book. I really, really wanted to love this book. I love Lauren Martin's instagram account, @words_of_women, and I love the idea behind the book - but y'all, I just couldn't do it.

For me, it felt a little trite to be so disconnected from your actions and the way you treat the people around you - so far as to come to a startling realization that it's just.... oh, your moods. As someone who suffers from clinical depression and anxiety, maybe I've just been in therapy for long enough to feel like every realization or aha moment was redundant and unnecessary to turn into an entire book? Could be!

Still love Lauren's instagram account and internet presence, just wasn't a fan of the redundancy and low-hanging-fruit of the book.

This is one of my favorite books of 2020. The way Lauren Martin talks about her different moods and how they have been transformed by her research, self reflection and actions is truly inspiring. I felt so SEEN by this book and her words. I found myself highlighting, circling, writing words next to quotes and it was such an experience reading each mood. Like most women, I can be super moody and I never know where those moods are coming from. As I was reading about Lauren’s experiences I finally was able to identify why I may feel a certain way when interacting with coworkers, family or my husband. It’s like a lightbulb went off in my head and I was like ohhhhh that makes sense, duh! I loved how each chapter was broken down and it’s clear that Lauren put a lot of time into her writing. I loved that the quotes were all from women and I loved how incredibly honest and relatable the writing was. I would 100% recommend this book to all women. It’s such an impactful book that’s not just a book, but an experience.

The Book of Moods was really great and especially relatable! I really enjoyed the book and will likely pick it up next time I'm at the bookstore!

A masterpiece of a book!
The book of moods is a work of art that seems to be years in the making. Lauren Martin knew her moments of up and downs of emotions needed some work, Thinking that there was something wrong with her.

In The Book of Moods, Lauren goes in depth about who moods can effect everyone and that many of us aren't crazy as it seems. Follow her journey as she recounts certain moods and breaks them down to explain why we have certain moods and how we can, not necessarily make them go away, but how we can control them to better suit ones self.

This is a book that I will think about for a the time to come!

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback

If y’all have been around here for a hot minute (and stuck with me while I grappled with the first semester of law school- I am so grateful!) you KNOW I love this type of book. I am eternally grateful for @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for the ARC copy ❤️

Why I picked this book & review:
I have read some amazing “self help” books in the last year as I shifted from working full time to going back to school and dealing with heightened anxiety in a way that I never had before. And while I’ve gotten some great tips from other books, The Book of Moods just really got me. Self reflection is SO important and Lauren Martin really hits it on the head with how to identify moods and change your thinking and actions and shift those moods. I relate to Lauren in ways that I can’t even begin to explain. I loved the way she infused the book with psychology and science as well as quotes by incredible women (if you haven’t already you MUST follow @words_of_women- she actually re-posted this review on pubday which is truly #goals) and mixed in her own witty personal touches and stories. This is absolutely one I’ll be picking up in hard copy so I can highlight, bookmark, and read whenever I need advice on dealing with a mood. Pick up your copy today! ❤️

The Bookish Bronde Rating: 5 Stars

The Book of Moods provides an incredibly accurate and relatable look at something so many of us deal with, our moods. And what are moods you ask? Lauren Martin explains it so perfectly on her Words of Women Instagram post that I had to share it here...

"When I talk about #moods I don’t just mean generic emotions. I don’t mean angry or sad or stressed. I mean those feelings we have that we can’t explain. The suffocating feeling at the end of the day when you don’t know what you want or need but you need something to stop whatever is going on inside. I mean the restlessness you feel even though you don’t have anywhere to go. I mean the horrible feeling of looking in the mirror and feeling ugly even though yesterday you thought you looked great. I mean the feeling that something is wrong when everything is right and good and as it should be. These are moods. These feelings that come up and take hold and we don’t know why or what to do about them."

Everyone has these patterns of self-doubt, worries, and emotional triggers,  but they can also feel so isolating because they really can come out of nowhere. Backed with research, personal stories, and self-reflection -Martin provides insight on how to better understand your own emotions, and stop them from becoming moods that can stop you in your tracks. 

No matter how grateful we are for all the good things we have in our lives, everyday life is also made up of so many of the in-between moments of struggle and self-doubt. Instead of looking at these moments as a way to self-sabotage, we can use them as a powerful vessel to help us reflect, forge ahead, and ultimately transform ourselves and our paths forward.

What I loved most about this book is Martin's honesty. Lauren Martin is most definitely in a different stage of life than me, but even if many of our daily struggles are different, we have something we common, we experience these kinds of emotions. It doesn't matter how old you are or how many truly difficult situations you have endured, even when you regularly reflect on how fortunate you are in so many ways, there are going to be moments you just feel down.

Her quotes and anecdotes and advice normalize how you can be rocking along with work, an important project, etc, and then one small comment can make you question everything. We all have inner struggles and recognizing that these are a thing, can help us acknowledge them and then continue to move forward. 

While I read this book on my kindle, as soon as I finished I pre-ordered a physical copy because it is the perfect book to highlight up the wazoo because there is just so much insight here. While we will never be able to control life or the people around us (wishful thinking right?) we do have the power to choose how we react. Emotions are a useful tool when we hold them, reflect on them, and then ultimately let them propel us ahead. 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in change for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. You can read this and other book reviews at genthebookworm.com

The author perfectly captured what so many of us consistently feel and allow to rule our lives. Somehow even though every woman experiences the struggles that the author writes about, the author wrote a memoir that feels extremely intimate. The self-care and scientific bits made this a book that can help even the most skeptical woman to not allow her moods to control her life anymore.

I really enjoyed this one. I personally found Martin’s anecdotes and advice to be very real and practical. I’ve read a lot of criticism of her attitude throughout the book, however, I liked that she showed what could be perceived as a “negative” side of her, owned up to her behavior, but also provided insight to why she felt the way she did. Her honestly throughout was refreshing. If you think you’ve made it your whole life without having a single selfish or whiny-spoiled-brat moment, you’re likely wrong. We all have these moods from time to time, which is quite literally the topic of this book. It was evident that a lot of thought was put into each section, and I feel like I took a new perspective out of each.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced e-book copy!

As an avid and longtime follower of the Words of Women instagram account I was thrilled when I heard that Lauren was writing a memoir. She was kind enough to send me an advanced copy and I can honestly say that I devoured it in one sitting!

I was familiar with Lauren's writing style from her brilliant newsletters, website, and instagram so I was not surprised to find the prose in her memoir to be eloquent and relatable. I loved the quotes sprinkled throughout the book's sections (follow her instagram for more since that is her speciality) and was especially moved by how vulnerable and honest Lauren was since I could identify with so many of the "moods" she examines.

I highly recommend this book... my dog-eared copy will have a permanent place on my nightstand!

Ok, from the start, I really liked this one. I spent almost 9 years in therapy, and some of the things said in this book made sense to me that my counselor was never able to get across. I love books about therapy. Not just to get something out of them, but to see the different methods of how to "train" people. I loved this one.

Wow. This book was special. I started reading this during a rough mental health week and I have to say it completely helped me not feel so alone in my feelings. Reading this book was the perfect little pick me up for those bad days. No matter how lucky or fortunate you are in life, you can still have down moments. Lauren Martin does a fantastic job being relatable, funny and raw. It's an honest look at emotions and emotional triggers. It normalizes not apologizing for not wanting to explain why you had a bad day, or why one small comment sent you over the edge or why one work email made you burst into tears. It inspired me to take a step back from my certain negative emotions and transform them into something better.
I literally want another physical copy of this book so I can re-read it over and over again on those unexplained moody days.
So if you're feeling stressed, anxious, moody or anything else- get this book! Read through the anecdotes and quotes and guarantee it will help you feel a bit better and a bit more normal.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in honor of my honest opinion!

I loved the book. At least half of it. It is well-written, well-researched and insightful. And, it's very relatable and witty. If I had access to the print copy, I would have ear-marked the heck of out it.

The Book of Moods by Lauren Martin is part memoir and part self-help. And it's much less of a downer than I imagined reading about someone's mood swings. Each chapter opens with inspiring and funny quotes from well-known female authors and celebrities.

That said, by the end of the book, I was very put off by Martin's many stories involving her freak outs and drama. I went from wanting to root for her (and be her friend) to rolling my eyes. During one of her meltdowns, her husband called her a spoiled brat, and I concur! In fact, I wanted to throw the book across the room several times and tell her to grow up.

But I cannot be too harsh. After all, I was very similar at her age (a late twenty-something). My world revolved around me, myself and I ... plus my many mood swings. Now, with nearly two more decades under my belt (having experienced death, debt, divorce, childbirth, a pandemic, social injustice, etc.), I realize just how good my white privileged ass really has it. It's hard to be upset when I live in a safe area, have food to eat, have access to great schools for my kiddo, and easy access to a support group of friends via the internet.

The second bummer about this book is that it portrays the world from the perspective of a white female. Even the quotes are largely from white women. It makes very little mention, if at all, to those with much less ... and to my recollection, there's no mention to people of color. Ugh. After this year, it just stands out as a big misstep.

As women, if we could just change our perspective and realize how good we really have it, our drama and defensiveness would start to fade away.


Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to an electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.

A timely read while in quarantine, Martin’s book will help you re-examine your thoughts, feelings, and the cycles you have intentionally or unintentionally fallen into as a result of both. Martin’s direct style is complemented by just enough humor to allow the reader to process the lessons.

Wow. A fabulous memoir / self help book for women. I am excited that the pub date is early December. I will definitely be purchasing copies for friends for the holidays.