Believe It by Jamie Kern Lima feels like having a heart-to-heart conversation with a close friend—one who has been through the ups and downs of life and is now sharing her hard-earned wisdom with you. Jamie's writing style is approachable and warm, making it a perfect pick for anyone who loves the feeling of a personal connection through a book. (If you’re an audiobook fan, the experience is even more powerful as Jamie reads it herself, adding that extra layer of authenticity.)

This book isn’t a how-to manual with step-by-step instructions for a successful business. If you’re looking for a meticulously detailed plan to replicate her exact success, this might not be the right fit for you. Instead, Jamie focuses on introspection and personal growth. She shares the struggles, self-doubt, and external challenges she faced while building her business, teaching readers how to overcome obstacles like thinking too little of yourself, listening to the wrong people, dealing with haters, and silencing your inner critic.

While some critics may be bothered by the book’s emphasis on Jamie’s personal story rather than a structured, tactical guide, I found it refreshing. The beauty of this book lies in its relatability. It’s not about mimicking someone else's journey, but about learning from their experiences so you don’t have to make the same mistakes. Jamie invites readers into her life, sharing both the wins and the tough lessons, offering a kind of mentorship through her own vulnerability.

For those like me who appreciate the individual stories that make up each person, Believe It is a gem. It’s about growth, resilience, and learning to believe in yourself even when the world doesn’t. Jamie’s genuineness shines through, making this book an inspiring read for anyone looking to face their own challenges with courage and perseverance.

Overall, Believe It isn’t just a business book; it’s a powerful reminder of the strength within all of us, waiting to be unleashed once we believe in our potential.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Believe IT" offers an inspiring entrepreneurial journey with valuable insights into perseverance and self-belief. Jamie Kern Lima's transformation from waitress to billion-dollar CEO is undeniably compelling, and her candid sharing of personal struggles - from financial hardships to discovering her adoption - adds authenticity to her narrative.

The first half of the book shines brightest, delivering powerful lessons about overcoming self-doubt and pursuing ambitious goals despite skepticism from others. Lima's battle to challenge beauty industry standards and her practical advice for handling rejection and building confidence are particularly valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs.

However, the book's momentum wavers in its latter half, where repetition of earlier points dilutes the impact of her message. While Lima's religious faith clearly played a crucial role in her journey, the heavy emphasis on spirituality in the second half feels somewhat disconnected from the book's initial positioning as a business memoir. Readers should be aware that the narrative gradually shifts from pure business/self-help to include significant faith-based elements.

Additionally, some readers might find the book's promotion strategy, involving a large launch team and encouraged reviews, a bit at odds with its message of authentic success. Nevertheless, this doesn't significantly detract from the valuable lessons within.

Despite these shortcomings, "Believe IT" can remain a worthwhile read for those seeking inspiration and practical strategies for building self-confidence and pursuing their dreams. Lima's story demonstrates that success is possible even when facing seemingly insurmountable odds, though a tighter edit could have made this message even more impactful.

Forgot to leave a review when I read this. I love Jamie's positivity and her story of never giving up! Very inspiring!

Jamie is a joy! This book is more of a memoir. It is a story of perseverance and strength. Very interesting to hear how/why she started IT Cosmetics.

I just did not like this book. I wanted to. I tried to. I rarely read a book that I don’t end up loving. She talked a lot about other people and about how It tried to be inspirational but fell flat. Just a lot of trite saying repeated.

Very Inspiring and well written book that is part biography and mostly inspiration on how to stop limiting beliefs and give oneself the grace to get unstuck and grow exponentially.

I loved this book, the author Jamie story was so inspiring and is an excellent reminder that you should never give up just because one door closes because there is always another door that will open for you!

Believe IT is the story of how Jamie goes from a waitress to being the founder of It! cosmetics. This is not your normal memoir or personal story. You will hear how Jamie met Oprah and waited years to call her at Oprah's request. You will hear about Jamie not believing in herself and how she decides she just needs to believe that she can do the next small thing toward her goal. Believe IT will make you laugh and motivate you to reach for your dreams.

This book was ok. Fun to read about the story behind IT Cosmetics, but the self-help content was a little cheesy and repetitive with other books on the market. I think the author is a genuinely good person and her story speaks for herself.

One of the standout aspects of this book is Lima's authenticity. She doesn't sugarcoat her experiences but instead shares the raw and unfiltered moments of her life, including the doubts, rejections, and moments of vulnerability. Her journey from a struggling journalist to a beauty industry icon is both inspiring and relatable, showing that with hard work, determination, and self-belief, anyone can achieve their dreams.

Such an inspiring read! Usually I find personal development books stale and only applicable to certain types of business professionals. However in Believe It, author Jamie Kern Lima instead takes you through her personal journey in business. She truly makes her book so personal you can easily see yourself in her. She doesn’t sit away from the darker side of business and instead gives the reader tools to believe their dreams can become reality. Often you would need two books: one about mindset and one about business. Jamie beautifully molds both of these very important topics together in a beautiful work that many can relate to. One of my top recommendations for women in business and women who simply want to learn to believe in themselves alike!

I loves some of the behind the scenes info and backstory. This book left me feeling inspired and hopeful!

It took me awhile to read this book. I just couldn't get into it. The author seems very sincere, but this book wasn't for me.

Jamie's inspirational story from news anchor to billionaire! You will feel like you can achieve your wildest dreams after reading this book!

Jamie Kern Lima has an amazing and inspiring story to share. In Believe It, she walks the reader through the steps to making one's dream a reality. I love her enthusiasm!

Interesting read. Not much for this type of book normally, but Jamie’s story is fascinating. I have always enjoyed watching her on QVC and the idea of her own company was so exciting

Overall there were some fun moments in the book, but the best hype came from the launch team. The first half of the book is much stronger than the later chapters. It would be a good option if it’s your new to self-discovery books, but most seasoned self-discovery readers aren’t going to have many take aways.

I was a part of the launch team for this incredible book. Reading Jamie’s story of growth, perseverance, and hard work has been so inspiring. It has helped me to reflect on where I am in my life and where I want to be. I realize that I am enough just the way I am, but I also have what it takes to achieve the biggest dreams I have. If you are a business owner, or someone that just needs a little motivation to believe in yourself again, this book is for you!

Great principals in theory if not taken to the extreme. The talk of her long work weeks to the detriment of herself and her family are cringy, it paid off for her though. She is vulnerable, strong and honest in her take on it though. I appreciate the good and bad. Very inspiring if a bit heavy on the religion side.

Life changing. This book, like the author, is fearless! Believe in you! Take the lessons and run with them! Fantastic book!