I am a fan of memoirs, and I can appreciate a writer who is willing to open up in an honest, raw dialogue and show you the inner struggles, and strengths it takes to talk about hardships. However, do not be misled by this title because while it is about loss, the literature plays a very small roll in the overall story.

I went in expecting one thing and I was disappointed that books weren't discussed more, but I did enjoy the other aspects of this book.

(Its a review from last summer which I thought I left a review of it here.)

Bookends

Today I finished reading Zibby Owens’s novel “Bookends” and I must say it had me hooked from the very first page. Thank you netgalley for letting me read it. Zibby Owens is well known in the publishing world and has her own podcast. Zibby in her memoir talks about books and how they have an impact on her and about grief and motherhood and how she falls in love with a tennis pro turned movie producer. “Bookends,” is definitely worth picking up especially if you enjoy stories and how they impact us.



Pros & Cons

While Zibby was born into wealth and I was obviously not, I can relate to her because we both enjoy books so much and we know the power and the impact stories have on us. I like how raw and honest Zibby is in her book about both her experiences, mistakes her eating disorders and depression etc. She talks about the grief she’s felt especially after losing her best friend on 9/11 I know I was crying along with her. I was a nine year old girl when that happened twenty one years ago. While I never lost a friend that day I was crying because so many lives were lost. I also enjoyed reading about Zibbys romance with Kyle the tennis player turned movie producer even though I didn’t agree with the affair part of it.

I also thought it was romantic that Kyle converted from Catholicism to Judaism before marrying Zibby. If a man converted to your religion he’s a keeper. I know I would swoon if a man told me “Bianca I would convert to Catholicism for you.” Only flaw I didn’t like was it seemed Zibby kept trying to say “Yes I know I’m privileged,” almost as though she had to apologize for it. I wanted to tell Zibby just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you can’t be unhappy. Time and time again we haven’t realized that just because someone is well off it doesn’t mean they are happy. Despite being born into wealth, Zibby doesn’t put on airs and she had to work for what she wanted.



Overall

This is a wonderful memoir. I think one of the best things about it is it is inspiring. If Zibby can achieve all that she has, I can achieve the same things with my blog and writing and whatever else I decide to do. Thank you Zibby Owens for writing this novel and sending it out into the world.

I love memoirs! This one was easy to read and enjoyable. I didn’t know anything about Zibby Owens before I saw this book.
Thank you for the advanced copy!

LOVE!
So dang honest and authentic! What a breath of fresh air! So many people with this background would write with arrogance and grandeur but instead you really feel like you are peers with the author.

Zibby Owens is a lovely person and a wonderful supporter of books and authors. Her memoir s interesting and brave but I found the insertion of the books she had been reading at the time f the various crises in her life rather random and not related in theme to what she herself was experiencing. Also perhaps a little too self-indulgent. The yawning gap of a partner/husband in the chapter where she had children made it very strange indeed. I assume she was not permitted to mention this man, but it did result in a rather strange story!
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy.

I had never heard of Zibby Owens before reading her memoir. I, too, am a voracious reader. I liked reading about her life, interspersed with the books she was reading at various junctures,
Owens grew up very different try from my childhood and life, but we share some Of the same reading interests.
One of the things that the pandemic afforded me was seeing and interacting with authors online, a format that I continue and hope to do so for the foreseeable future.
Another thing Owens and I share is an insatiable appetite for books. I don’t know how she fits all the things she talked about into her packed days.

Bookends is the story of how Zibby Owens found her way back to happiness after a series of difficult life events. Through reading and writing, she rediscovered her love of learning and started a successful career as a book reviewer and podcast host. I absolutely loved this book! Zibby Owens is an amazing storyteller, and her candor about her struggles with depression, anxiety, and motherhood was both relatable and inspiring. This book is a must-read for anyone who needs a pick-me-up.

I was a bit familiar with Zibby Owens because of her podcast, had heard that she lost her best friend on 9/11/2001, and lived in New York City but that was really it. I had enjoyed her compilations of essays, and figured this would be an interesting read. This certainly opened my eyes to who she is, but not always for the best.

It was fairly well written, a bit relatable but also seeped in privilege. Zibby tells you some secrets about her life, but clearly left out a lot (some of which she tells you at the beginning she will do). She found an escape in books as a child as a result of her parents divorce, which is relatable. Being lost after your best friend dies is relatable. Talking about how you struggle to find time to read after having children is relatable. There is loss and love, even if the literature is simply dropping the names of books you were reading at key moments in your life. Though those were usually the bestsellers of the day or a classic and not really anything I'd never heard of before.

But complaining about how you have too much on your plate even though you have a full-time nanny and don't work is just absolute privilege. Talking about flying cross-country with your boyfriend for a weekend in California multiple times in a month - privilege. Talking about hiding out in your huge house in the Hamptons during COVID lockdown with your full time nanny - privilege. Talking about your private tennis coach lessons - privilege.

So would I recommend this book? Maybe - to the right person. Not everyone is going to like this book and that's okay. Is it worth giving it a shot? Sure, give it a shot. Sounds like it would be a good on audio type read.

This wasn’t my favorite memoir I’ve read. It felt too meandering for my taste and I had a hard time connecting to Zibby.

So creative, a book about life and how what your reading at the time can sometimes reflect that. Isn’t it interesting that we can remember what we were reading at certain points in our lives? Also sometimes we reach for a book that directly correlates to our current circumstances. How books can get us through challenging situations and bring solace and comfort. If you are a book connoisseur then this is right up your alley touching all the feels you’d come to expect. Bookends table of contents is uniquely laid out in a refreshing bibliophile way. This memoir is on point and touches on love, loss, heartache and finding your path in life that feeds your spirit through literature. Zibby is relatable and unpretentious. A book about books any book snob will devour. I simply can’t say enough good things about this one and really love how she compiled a book list at the end of the book featuring each one she referenced in the story. In addition her podcast and how that all came about is detailed in here as well. Um yes! A podcast featuring authors and books heck yea!! Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC all opinions are my own.

Bookends is an earnest account of life through the peaks and lows of an avid reader immersed in a literary world.

Owens illustrates her journey by talking about growing up, longtime friends, and finding her voice in the corporate world. It was truly moving to read and to connect with her reality.

I love the warmth and the rightful descriptions of every experience. It was very invigorating to see how she found her voice and became a book messenger. A genuine read that allows you to discover new perspectives on life, love, loss, and books.

I was not a Zibby Owens fan prior to reading this book. She is open and honest in this memoir in a way that was refreshing. I particularly enjoyed the first half of the book that went through the many traumas. I felt she wrote in a distanced way, but she always brought it back to books. The second half of the book was more relatable as a mother trying to find her true space in life.

Meh. I didn't finish this one. Premise sounded interesting but it was a yawn. I was familiar with Zibby Owens from social media so that's why I requested this one.

I had no previous experience or knowledge of this author going into this book so I found certain patts more striking than others. However I can and do appreciate how frank, honest and open she is in the stories she tells.

Bookends
A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature
by: Zibby Owens
Little A
Pub Date: 7/1/2022
Genre: Memoir, Biography

Zibby Owens certainly had life stories to tell. Her writing is authentic and genuine as she shares her personal tragedies and triumphs. Each period in her life has literature connected to it. The inclusion of books that were important to her along her journey adds an additional rich layer to her narrative.

I appreciate the frankness of Owens' words about her childhood, education, career, friends, and family. She allows readers to learn more about her than what we know from her as a publisher and author. Especially powerful to me was Owens' account of the painful loss of her friend on 9/11.

When reading a good memoir such as this, I welcome the opportunity think and reflect more about my own life. We grow and connect from hearing each other's stories, and I'm grateful that Owens used her own voice and splendid writing to tell hers.

Thank you to Net Galley and Little A for an advance reader's copy of this book. I am providing my unbiased review.

Since I had no idea who the author of this book was, I read it as if a librarian were recommending books to me and in the process adding details of her life. Of course, the second part interested me very little, but at least I added many books to my already endless list of ones I would like to read....

Siccome non avevo idea di chi fosse l'autrice di questo libro, l'ho letto come se una bibliotecaria mi raccomandasse dei libri e nel frattempo ci aggiungesse dettagli della sua vita. Ovviamente la seconda parte mi interessava pochissimo, ma almeno ho aggiunto molti libri alla mia giá infinita lista di quelli che mi piacerebbe leggere...

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. As an avid reader, I am drawn to books about books and bookish people. This memoir was a perfect read for me. I enjoyed how Zibby relived her story so far and shared with us her ups, downs and the books that she was reading during each of these times in her life and how they helped support her through the challenging times and celebrate with her during the happiest of times. A thoroughly enjoyable read, it made me reminisce about different books I have read through different phases of my life and how they have always been there for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #zibbyowens #bookends #netgalley #goodreads #tea_sipping_bookworm #thestorygraph #litsy #amazonkindle #amazonaustralia #bookqueen #bookstagram #memoirs

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I was unfamiliar with Zibby prior to reading this. I became so invested with her story and appreciated how she broke out things into chunks of what was happening in her life. She unfortunately has experienced so much loss, many of which back to back, that clearly took a toll on her mental health and relationships. I am happy she never gave up on her writing, even if it was difficult for other to read and experience. Grief affects everyone differently. After so much loss, I was happy that Zibby eventually got to a place of peace and calm with an unexpected life partner.

Interesting memory, thanks for the first look at this ARC, I’m sure people will really enjoy it, I learned something new and a lot about her life.

Coming of age - to a life of books

In this vulnerable memoir, popular book influencer Zibby Owen shares her journey sprinkled with books. For readers of popular and literary fiction, the thread of books experienced throughout phases of the author’s life is heartwarmingly familiar.
The author calls out her privileged background without apologizing for it and while expressing gratitude for the doors it opened for her. She dabbles in her personal relationships - especially with her 2nd and current husband - but closes the door on other parts of her personal life.
I’d have liked more details about the process of building her book influencing brand - which may have been difficult to portray since it happened in such a whirlwind.
Hoping Zibby Owens continue to bring books to light and give authors a platform for their voice.