As a sometime listener of Forever35 and hearing her pop-up as guests on other podcasts, I was vaguely aware of who Doree was, but this delightful book opened a door into her life. I related to many of Doree's stories and struggles, from surviving the 2008 financial crisis to figuring out her career as a woman in media, to finally having a family of her own. As an also self-described "late bloomer" felt I found a kindred spirit! While it took a bit for me to get really get into the book, when it hit it's stride I didn't want to put it down.

While I received an ARC of Thanks for Waiting from NetGalley for free, this had no bearing on my rating and review.

I am (I think) a late bloomer, too, and this book was very satisfying for that reason. The author has lived a very interesting life and the perspective that comes along with that is enjoyable to read.

I liked this book, which essentially has two halves -- before she meets the guy, after she meets the guy. The second half is better! Maybe just because Shafrir was so ready to get good guidance from a therapist, who asked her a few key questions, and set her in a direction to join a relationship and be a good partner. Once she outgrows her youthful (and tiresome, for the reader) immaturity on constantly seeking validation from her latest, she grows up. Her infertility journey was very well described, and we go on all her ups and downs, including eventually giving birth and how hard the early days of newborn parenthood can be! Shafrir is funny and engaging and likeable. I liked the journey .

I very much enjoyed this book. I thought the second half became a little too 'journal'-y meaning linear without too much unique self-relfection, which is why I enjoyed the first half so much. I think Doree's journey, and thoughts, are relatable to a mass audience, whether or not you can relate to the specific moments in her life.

THANKS FOR WAITING topped my list of most anticipated releases in 2021, and it did not disappoint. Doree Shafrir, longtime Buzzfeed journalist and podcaster extraordinaire, manages to retain the voice so many of us choose to tune into each week. Shafrir has written the ode to the late bloomer: she has given those of us who have historically struggled to find our place in the world a written account that - spoiler alert - has the happy ending we strive to meet. THANKS FOR WAITING is poignant and relatable, especially for those of us who constantly struggle to meet the expectations we’ve been conditioned to set.

Most notable for me was Shafrir’s retelling of her IVF/infertility journey, which was transparent and honest. We need more literature in circulation that grapples with these hard topics that we historically fail at talking about. Shafrir doesn’t sugarcoat her journey, but raises visibility surrounding the pressure women face against our own biological clocks, and the struggles that 1 in 8 face when trying to start a family. It is challenging to write an account of infertility while remaining simultaneously candid and uplifting, and Shafrir does both masterfully with the same candid vibe she and husband Matt bring to their weekly infertility podcast.

Started off a little slow, and didn't know if I would like this book. So glad I stayed with it, I really really loved it.
I enjoyed reading about her adventures in dating, and then marriage and baby.

Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I admire Doree so much.
I have known of her since she started dating her husband, and have followed her career basically since- I tune in every week to both of her podcasts, and follow her on social media. So I was planning on buying her book or getting it from the library (or both!), and then, surprise, I got a galley!

It's hard to review a galley because you know some things will change. Overall, the book was wonderful, and gave me a glimpse of who Doree is to her core, and I also think this will be a great, relatable book to those that feel the way she does: that she is a late bloomer, that she floundered in her career a lot, took her time to get to life's "big events", and that, ultimately, ended up where she should at the time she should have. I definitely have a few people in mind that I can't wait to recommend this to!

However, there were some pacing problems that I'm hoping will be resolved in the final copy. In some places, I felt like I was being rushed to the finish line, and in others, I found myself wondering how many times I need to re-read about her sister. I get it, she's younger and had her life together early on, I don't need to be reminded no fewer than 4 times, and I'm hoping this issue gets resolved in the final printing (and because I love Doree so much and this is really the only thing that kept me from a 5 star review, I will be reading this when I get my hands on a final copy).

Overall, as stated above, I did enjoy this book. I think it will be a great benefit to those that are similar to Doree. I just wish the pacing had been different in places- but I will be getting the final copy to come back and update this review.