Member Reviews

I loved this memoir about the author's discovery that her son has an epileptic disorder. She weaves in stories of her own life and the concerns that arise about her son.

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This book is a collection of essays which cover a myriad of topics: how to get a picky dog to eat their dinner to the feelings of helplessness when a close family member has a serious medical issue. I absolutely loved this book and could just imagine myself being Mary Laura's friend because her outlook on life is heartwarming, compassionate and just downright amusing.

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Interesting book of essays by a celebrated author. I admire the use of humor amidst the depiction of family crisis--the shifting tones here are masterful and fascinating.

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Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Honestly I couldn't get into it at all. It was more like a series of essays than a novel. and it was completely disconnected chapter to chapter. I'm sorry.

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I would tell you I'm not a fan of essays. Except when they are written by Mary Laura Philpott.

"We are not born knowing how to sort the events of the world into those we should worry about and those we can dismiss. We have to learn how to divvy these things up." Bomb Shelter, Mary Laura Philpott

Her wit and humor combined with her ability to pull back the layers to complicated, emotional stories revealing the true essence of being human is astounding. In the true spirit of, I Miss You When I Blink, Philpott delivers another heartfelt, often hilarious tale!

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This review is biased because I have the author’s first book in hardback on my bookshelf.

I absolutely loved this book by Mary, I felt her essays resonated so much with me, from her reflections on her Type A traits, to her avoiding physical therapy exercises, to her musings on self care. I ripped through this book and came away with a better understanding of how my mom felt when I was getting ready to leave the nest; Mary expressed the unsaid worries and thoughts that every parent must grapple with when it is time to let go of the child and embrace their journey to become an adult.

You will enjoy a good, cozy read with this one.

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I don't often read memoirs, but I am so grateful to receive a copy of Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott. This collection of essays is therapy in a book! I honestly think I will return to it in the future again and again. Highly recommend!!

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I’m a fan of Mary Laura Philpott’s writing. If you’re not familiar with her small cartoon book, Penguins with People Problems, you should look it up.

This series of essays is essentially about how limited we are in trying to protect the people we love, and how some of us have brains wired to constantly worry. Everyone has something, she says, and it is a good reminder to offer grace and patience to others.

There are serious issues here, but it is all tempered by funny observations. It is all very relatable, to me, maybe to you?

I loved this book.

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Wow! I related to these essays so much. I sometimes felt that the author was in my head pulling out information with the relatable content. I loved this one. A must read.

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Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

These collections of essay were a rollercoaster of emotions. We start with her son experiencing her first at home seizure, backyard turtles. We watch her experience, anxiety, fear, over thinking, aging parents, and so much more. She does her best to support her growing children, her husband, her parents. I recommend if. you are looking for well written essays.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the invitation to read this. This is not usually a genre that I enjoy, but Philpott nails the anxiety women in the "sandwich generation" without spiraling into despair. She tackles issues like parental and illness in one's children with humor and grace. This book is immensely readable, and strangely calming.

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Mary Louise Philpotts lates book of essays is emotionally moving a group of essays emotions that I immediately related to.I was a fan of her previous book but this one really grabbed me.When she describes late at night hearing a loud thump from her upstairs bathroom & discovering her son in the midst of an epileptic attack I was emotionally connected.The authors essays some are funny are so real I feel as though she is one of my girlfriends.This was an excellent read sad moments and fun times I will be recommending.#netgalley #Bombshelter

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Mary Laura Philpott is cheerful, anxious, existential, optimistic. She is me, but at the age of my mother. In fact, she looks just like my mom, petite and charming and blonde.

Perhaps this is why her books calm me to the bone exactly when I need them to. I swear Mary Laura receives a notification on her phone when I'm in the midst of a shoulder-hunching, stomach-churning, frantic googling anxiety crisis, and she publishes a book in response that says everything I need to hear.

These essays in particular strike at one of my greatest psychological ailments: health anxiety (read: death). She puts words and reason to the fears that we life lovers endure every day: what if something happens to those we adore? Being on earth is so much fun, and we don't want to leave the party just yet. Even though we're introverts. So that's saying something.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free therapy in the form of this book, and to Mary Laura for delivering some serotonin just when the tank was on E.

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Not as light and funny as I Miss You When I Blink, but certainly just as relatable. Dealing with anxiety about the mortality of your loved ones is universal. I hope that navigating a serious health condition with your child isn't quite universal, but I've done it, and so this book made me cry on a pretty regular basis. Cathartic, especially after 2020.

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