This is a terrific nonfiction book – part memoir, part guidebook for success in business and in life. The author, Laila Tarraf, speaks from the heart without ego or fear – the two qualities that unfortunately rule most of us.

“….she was a strong and effective business leader, the successful daughter of immigrants, and the mother of a toddler; but she was also disconnected from her own feelings and had little patience for the feelings of others.”

After tragedy strikes, she is forced to look at her life honestly. Through being open, and having a really good therapist, she starts to unravel her past and figure out what kind of future she wants to have for herself, her daughter, and all she comes into contact with.

I found the book helpful, uplifting, and a worthwhile read.

Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

P.S. And, kudos to the author who gave the book a 5 star rank on Goodreads. We should all believe in ourselves!

I expected to love this book and it just didn't completely work for me. I think it was partially that I felt a bit misled by the title. It felt more like a book about grief and relationships and less about evolving as a leader in the business world. I got bored a bit in the middle (yes, that happens to me often) but I did finish it and it is well written.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A book that drew me right in to the authors life,Lila Tarraf is a strong woman who has handled and overcome slot in her life.She is a survivor who is a born leader,with excellent life suggestions.#netgalley #shewritespres.

A great read about Laila's life and how it gave her the skills to be a leader. Her resilience is one that we can all learn from and emulate in our own lives.

STRONG LIKE WATER - Laila Tarraf

I received this from Net Galley for the purpose of review. As I began this book I questioned in my own mind why I had even chosen the book. However, I was pleasantly pleased as I stuck with it to the end.

This is a true story about a young woman whose parents were immigrants and her life in the business world. While she was a strong leader and very successful, she was not much for emotions or showing emotions. She was the "fixit" for everyone and their problems from her childhood and had continued that in business. She was able to succeed and become quite the business woman.

Life took a sudden turn when she was widowed with a toddler and had to do some soul searching in order to survive this event. She adjusts and does what is necessary only to have the sudden loss of Dad and shortly thereafter Mom.

Laila turns from the "fixit" to the woman who truly understands the need for emotion and expressing it. She seeks to be a good mom to her young daughter while experiencing the most difficult time in her life as a young widow and single mom. The journey begins and goes into triple time when she is faced with loss of Dad and Mom in just a few short years.

Laila makes some outstanding memories and changes with her daughter and in the process becomes a better woman and better business woman.

Interesting.

Laila Tarraf’s memoir Strong like Water was a wonderful book of self-awareness and growth.

By competing in the male dominated world of big business,, she mistakenly equates distancing herself from her coworkers as showing strength and leadership. Through years of therapy and genuine seeking, she discovers that what she mistakenly thinks is her weakness is in truth her strength.

As she revisits her childhood and her relationship with her family members. she discovers there is a world beyond the narrow confines of her young life. It is only through multiple tragedies and intense soul-searching that she is able to gain this insight. Her struggle to overcome the turmoil of this life at times seems overwhelming but through the love of her young daughter and the examples of her mentors she succeeds

This book is truly an inspiration for changing your life and finding your dreams. Through hard work and
honesty everything is possible.

Kaila had everything she ever wanted. An adorable daughter a great husband and she was a rising star in her company. Then her husband died. She was devastated. Not long after that, she lost her parents. There was too much loss in her life. She found she was losing herself in unacknowledged feelings. Her best bet is to ask for help. This is something she has never been good at.
A change is needed for her life to get better.
A great book about healing, and finding yourself.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the early copy of this book.

I enjoyed the beginning ad middle of this memoir. Many highlights in that part, and I identified with many of the struggles the author shared, but eventually the book felt/read very redundant and I became bored. When I found it felt more like a chore to read, I started skimming. I don't want to minimize the author's experiences or writing - I just couldn't relate any longer and didn't feel like there was much new insight being offered.

How does a woman with a strong career balance her life between work and home? If you google this, you'll find a list of helpful hints or bullet points.

Laila Tarraf in her book "Strong Like Water" has a different approach. She reveals what it took for her to finally find a balance with her life story after personal setbacks and emotional baggage from her childhood. She had a strong career as an MBA from Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and then landed a high-end job with Peets Coffee and Tea. Pat O'Dea, CEO of Peets Coffee, admired her as she was a fierce competitor with a no-nonsense workforce. Yet, her personal life was going off course after three deaths in the family. She said, the pain felt like "huge waves crushing upon me." She searched for emotional support.. "My bookshelf looked like the self-help section of the bookstore." Then she found an excellent therapist that helped her find her way, to become "strong life water."

The book was a slow starter for me. Yet half way, I really enjoyed it as it gave a good perspective on how one brave woman was able to find happiness. Each chapter starts with a quote that works with her words of wisdom. She gave credit to Michael Singer with his book, "The Unthethered Soul" (also recommended) for helping her understand how to cope with fear.. Throughout the book, she was supported by her friends at work and in time, she found peace with her family and personal side of life.

It's gratifying to read a meaningful woman's story. You don't search for books like this. These books will find you. Early on, Laila Tarraf described the "safety net" around her personal life and after years of support, she is now open to share her story to help others. My thanks to her. My thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for allowing me to read this copy.

I enjoyed this memoir. It was deep in that the author grew within herself during the story. She was molded by her “take charge” attitude as a child as she sheltered her mother from an abusive father. This determined who she became and her efforts to “find herself” after losing her husband,