A wonderful book that explores the joy of life through thoughtfully written essays. MK is smart and witty and so thoughtful in her writing. This is a very enjoyable read.

So I stumbled upon MK on Facebook and absolutely fell in love with her energy and message. She is so authentically herself and truly understands what being a Christian is SUPPOSED to look like. I've followed her for years and purchased her book "Holy Hot Mess" when it came out, and within 3 days I read it and shared with my best friend and husband. I had been (impatiently) waiting for the release of "Crazy Joy" since MK started talking about it and was ecstatic when she asked if her followers would like to be a part of her launch team. I immediately signed up and placed my pre-order; and because life has been super crazy, it took me longer than I wanted to finish reading it - but let me tell ya, there were many nights that I fell asleep while trying to read just one more chapter. "Crazy Joy" will make you laugh and cry and question your perspectives... and at the same time, make you feel seen, understood and less alone in this crazy world. MK is honest and shows you how to be honest with yourself while still being compassionate and giving yourself grace. She has a way of drawing you in and connecting with your soul in a way that many authors spend their careers striving for. It takes a lot to catch my attention these days, but she's managed to keep me engaged and interested in her online content and her literary works. I'm about to go purchase "Mom Babble" so I can have her full collection - and continue sharing in her crazy joy.

MK wrote another great book that is funny and engaging! She always has such a way with words and is just so relatable.

Mary Katherine shares funny stories from her life, and is a good writer. I found the pacing a bit frenetic, but I did enjoy the message that happiness is usually viewed as a destination, and that bench mark is always moving, so maybe that ISN'T the way we should be viewing/anticipating happiness in our life.

Thank you Netgalley and Worthy Publishing for the ARC!

A book that is perfectly written from the heart, Thank you, MK, for sharing your story. Cheers to feeling hopeful and to finding joy in this crazy upside-down world and for being an inspiration!

Thank you, NetGalley, publisher, and author, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a nice little book about the importance of choosing joy in small moments.

The author has a way of writing that is very relatable. Although not all of the stories fully connected for me, I enjoyed reading this. The discussion questions were also a nice addition. I personally felt like they were much deeper than the actual content in many of the chapters, so they could definitely be utilized to add even more depth to the reading.

Also, the author is Christian, but while her faith is clearly a part of her life, the majority of the content could be read and enjoyed by a non-Christian. This broader framing is neither inherently good or bad, but it's important to note so that the reader has accurate expectations for what this book is about.

What’s refreshing look at finding joy in the midst of these unprecedented times! Love the author’s humor and outlook on life and want to read more inspiration from her!

MK is a great author, very down to earth and easy to connect with.
This isn't so much full of new information as it is very accessible and in a voice that feels like you are sitting down with a good friend and getting a great perspective.
Lots of personal anecdotes but also bits and pieces from studies, classic literature, etc.
I would say anyone who wants to connect more with the everyday joy of life should read this.

This book is a book I highly recommend! I have read all of her books and each time o go into it thinking “there’s no way it can top the last one”. Somehow, she sucks me into the book and I can’t put it down. She’s real, hilarious, down to earth, and an amazing Christian lady. her books are all about real life experiences and the crazy messy wonderful life of motherhood along the way. 10/10 recommend.

Great book! MK has outdone herself. Such hilarious stories wrapped in wisdom. I laughed out loud; she is a wonderful storyteller.

Let me just say that it has been years since I picked up a book to read. As I was reading this book, I felt like Mary Katherine Backstrom and I have been great friends forever. She tells this story so well that finding Joy is just the thing to do. Her book was a pleasure to read.

This ended up not being the right book for me at this moment. I think there are others that will love it, though!

Backstrom shares her own life stories as she encourages us in our pursuit of joy. She admits she is not an expert in the field but, as a seasoned traveler, invites us along on the journey.

This book is not instruction from the Bible but rather a dive into Backstrom's life. She shares many personal stories to illustrate her strategy for enjoying life. Some of the stories are funny and some of them I failed to understand their significance. She is honest in her comments, often using what would have been considered swear words a generation ago. She also uses a bit of humor along the way. To have inner peace, for example, Backstrom says, “Therapy, psych meds, Jesus, Oreos; it may take a little of each.” (1231/2640) She is free in noting that she has been in therapy for years. (1090/2640)

Why pursue joy? As Backstrom learned, “It nurtures a spirit of defiance in the face of crushing adversity. It reminds your soul it's not time to quit, not now, and it keeps you fighting.” (2456/2640) It's worth the risk, she encourages.

This is a book for readers who like lessons derived from life experiences rather than Bible exposition. It would especially appeal to career age or young married people not so familiar with the Bible.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Crazy Joy
Finding Wild Happiness in a World That's Upside Down
by Mary Katherine Backstrom
Pub Date 30 Aug 2022
Worthy Publishing, Worthy Books
Christian




I am reviewing a copy of Crazy Joy: Finding Wild Happiness in a World That's Upside Down through Worthy Publishing and Netgalley:




Happiness is considered a destination, but the destination is constantly moving. It changes when we get married, find that dream job, move away from home, have a baby, build a dream house, etc. We are promised that a happy life is tied to these milestones.





What if society has it wrong? What if happiness is not a destination?


Mary Katherine paints a picture of a different life—one bursting with a force that is far more sustainable and vibrant: joy with her trademark candor as well as her hilarious storytelling.


With Crazy Joy readers can be helped in the following ways:


1. Identify and reject ridiculous expectations that society has placed on their lives.
2. Liberate their hearts from the comparison prison and feel content in their current circumstances.
3. View themselves, inside and out, as the masterpiece creations they are.
4. Find joy (and dare we say, laughter!) in the middle of life's biggest messes.


Crazy Joy invites readers to embark on a counter-cultural journey toward a life filled to the brim with contentment, humor, and most importantly, Crazy Joy.



I give Crazy Joy five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Mary Katherine Backstrom holds nothing back in her book. Call it self-help, religious, whatever, but what you get is pure Mary Katherine. This is a woman who writes from the heart. If you follow her blog, you know she puts it all there, bumps and all. She's a mom, a breast cancer survivor, an emotional health fighter - and so much more. "Crazy Joy" opens the pages to help you explore what life has to offer - from a woman who never fails to draw strength from each and every day. If you want to shine a little light, spread a little sunshine, check out "Crazy Joy."

I was excited to read Mary Katherine’s new book, Crazy Joy. Like her previous work, Holy Hot Mess, it is full of her life stories, with some wonderful insights gleaned through them. There are thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter, which are helpful for transferring her lessons learned, into our own life stories and experiences. I love MK, and I came away from finishing the book in one sitting, to feeling hopeful that there is still joy to be had in this crazy, upside down world, and knowing that I want to continue to pursue it, and bring others along with me. Thank you, MK, for another book that reminds us that we are all here for a purpose, and that we all need each other to fulfill that calling.

Mary Katherine’s books always seem to hit me right in the feels and give me right what I need to hear when I need to hear it! I love that she is so real and authentic. Thank you MK for helping me to find some much needed Crazy Joy in this often exhausting and overwhelming world!

I finished me e-ARC this weekend, and I must say that it's very timely. I had a joy thief attack, and a friend offer a perfectly off the wall comment that had me laughing so hard I couldn't cry for a bit, and it was wonderful.

I had just read the chapters about the joy thieves and the one about steel magnolias, and was able to recognize the gift my friend had offered. Joy, crazy Joy, really is a jumble of good and bad, with the reminders of good charging in and not letting the bad drown you!

This book is very efficient in pointing out the way it all works, which is oftent very contrary to popular belief.

This is not a typical "Christian" book, in that it's not loaded with scripture or preaching. It's a natural outpouring of a friend who has experienced a lot, chosen what's best, and is sharing the wisdom she has gleaned with us. She points to Jesus but doesn't beat anyone over the head.

I think I highlighted close to half of the book. Things I want to go back and think about.

As I said, I received an e-arc from Netgalley, as well as my pre-ordered hardcopy. I chose to review it here, and all thoughts are my own.

"Because the beauty of joy isn't found in a garden. It doesn't grow in neat little rows. It's found in the crevices, the cracks, the chaos. Like flowers...but a little more wild."

This is the first book by MK that I've read and you better believe I'll be chasing down her backlist! This reads like a fun conversation between friends. I completely busted up laughing multiple times and found myself nodding to a lot of what she shares! I can see her ADHD coming through in the way she writes but I totally enjoyed it! All of these crazy stories that she manages to tie together at the end of each chapter where it all comes together and makes perfect sense! I love it!! I especially appreciate the soul probing questions at the end of each chapter. It really made me apply these thoughts and ideas into my life now right where I am.

"I've spent a lot of time searching for joy in the future. I made joy a future tense term instead of a present tense one."

"And you want to know what else I believe self-compassion is? I think it's having clarity on what joy is for me. Not what I've been told it is. Not what I think it should be."

So many great gems! I've highlighted a ton in this book! I'm already buying a physical copy for me, my friends, and family! I highly recommend this book!!! What are ya'all waiting for?! Go Go Go!! Buy it! Read it! Love it!! Thank you NetGalley and Worthy Publishing for this e-book! Review is all me!

If you have read Holy Hot Mess, then you know what a great author Mary Katherine Backstrom is with her hilarious stories. Once again, she does not disappoint. I will say that Crazy Joy is a different kind of book but it is still a great read.
She takes us along through the ups and downs of life to get us to see the joy that lies within the chaos. “The beauty of joy isn’t found in a garden. It doesn’t grow in neat little rows. It’s found in the crevices, the cracks, and the chaos. “
She takes you on the roller coaster of emotions that we all experience in life in MK fashion and by the time you finish the book, you feel like you have a better vision of the joy that you have experienced in your own journey.