Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Nelson Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Elizabeth Passarella - 5 stars!

I was an absolute huge fan of Elizabeth's first collection of essays, Good Apple, focusing mostly on growing up in the south as an evangelical Christian and now living in NYC. Her second book continues along that same vein, probably with less religious themes, but with all the heart and humor from the first. These interconnected stories also feature the family's quest to purchase a larger apartment in their same building.

Elizabeth's writing is so relatable and even though I'm older than she is, I feel like I''m sitting across the table from a best friend drinking a glass of wine and talking about everything - but really talking, not just instagram highlight talking. I loved the story of her dad's couch - I had a relatable ugly couch in my life too that would probably have coordinated well with hers! But of course, it's about more than a couch and that's where Elizabeth's writing shines. It's about all the feelings associated with objects. Plus, there are very few people out there who are completely honest these days - so when Elizabeth writes about her facial hair woes or temporarily losing a child in Times Square, you can't help but relate and laugh along.

I can't recommend her books enough - I'm hoping she's sitting in the library now working on her next one!

I was attracted to the premise of the book about letting go of our parents' things or our own. This is a series of essays and some were okay and some were a bit boring and were hard to stick with. I guess what caught me off guard was the religious undertone that emerged every now and again and I did not realize that this would be a lens through which she would write. It wasn't constant but there was enough that it turned me off. There were moments of interest in the book about being a parent but overall, it was only okay.

Thank you to Netgalley and Nelson Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It Was An Ugly Couch Anyway: And Other Thoughts on Moving Forward is a collection of essays that touch on the topics of parenting, aging, and moving forward. This was an interesting read that gives a glimpse into what it’s like to live in Manhattan with young children over the past few years.

I loved seeing Passarella’s struggles (and triumphs) with parenting, as well as her relationships with her parents and in-laws. I appreciated her honesty about certain aspects of aging and motherhood. I loved her perspective on parenting in Manhattan, even though it is entirely different from how she was raised in Memphis. I also loved how she embraces life and doesn’t seem to fear for herself or her kids while living in such a big city.

Perhaps because this is more of an essay collection than it is a memoir, many parts felt unresolved to me. I’m really quite curious to know what she’s going to do with the ugly upholstery she saved!

Going into this read, I knew nothing of Elizabeth Passarella, so I was unaware of her religious leanings. She did a great job incorporating her faith into the book without it being overwhelming, but not knowing this in advance made the first few spiritual references feel out of place.

I also felt this book was less about moving forward and more about hanging on to certain things. Based on the title, I was hoping for something more directed at major life changes, transformations, etc.

Overall, I enjoyed It Was An Ugly Couch Anyway and would recommend it as a quick and interesting glimpse into the life of a mother in Manhattan. Passarella is funny and insightful and honest.

My thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Publishing. Pub Day 5/2/23

I absolutely loved this memoir of essays by Elizabeth Passarella! She shares the story of her family - her husband and three kids living in a two bedroom apartment in NYC - but wanting to move to a three bedroom apartment. Along the way she shares her childhood growing up in Memphis (oh the humor of her Southern roots!) and life in NYC with 3 young children in a tiny apartment. This intrigued me as a southerner who loves her wide open spaces. Her humor was so relatable, her stories so funny, yet true (I too have lost my kids!), and a book I really didn't want to end. I will look forward to her next book!

This was a funny book. I liked her reminiscing about her dad and the couch. I liked the stories about the couch too.
I like how Passarella talks like she is talking to a friend.
I enjoyed reading this as my dad passed recently and it made me think of fond memories I have with him.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I laughed, I cried, I loved this book! I will be adding the author’s other collection of short stories to my “to read” list.
Maybe it’s because I’m around the same age, and have recently gone through some similar life events, but I found many of the author’s experiences to be relatable. Those that weren’t were still entertaining and full of hope for moving forward in both big and small ways.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC!

A collection of relatable essays. I had not read any other books by this author but I enjoyed reading this story collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read anything by Elizabeth Passarella before but I will be looking for her books now. It Was an Ugly Anyway is filled with essays about Elizabeth’s life in New York but the stories aren’t really about New York. The stories are so much more. They remind us that life is about so much more than what we see. We need to dig deeper. Throughout the shorter essays is one essay that continues about trying to acquire an apartment from an older lady who doesn’t live in the building. I will admit, Elizabeth had more patience than I do.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Thanks to Elizabeth Passarella, too!

📚Synopsis:
A collection of essays sharing the author’s reflections on nearing middle age, and learning to use the wisdom from her past to help her choose which battles are worth fighting, and find fulfilment in humour in the everyday. Share a few laughs and nods of agreement as she provides adulting advice on parenting, relationships, careers, and how to maintain a healthy relationship with your mother-in-law.

✍️ My review:
A quietly entertaining collection of essays that share a realistic and (mostly) positive view of embracing aging as gaining life’s wisdom rather than just getting old. This book took me a while to finish as I found some of the essays were harder to relate to than others, but I did think the story-line of “moving to a new apartment” that occurred in segments throughout the book helped tie everything together.

💕You might like this book if:
🔹 you agree that life, or at least parts of it, gets better as you age
🔹 you appreciate reflecting on life changes
🔹you can see your role in a family as both child and parent / caregiver

Loved this book! Slice of life in essays is one of my favorite genres the past few years. And while this isn’t necessarily a Christian book, her faith comes through in some of the essays which I really liked. NYC living is intriguing to me and I loved getting a glimpse into that. A great mix of laughing out loud but also touching stories. I immediately added her first book to my TBR.
*Thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Elizabeth Passarella's first book. It resonated with me a lot, so I was looking forward to this second book by the author. I didn't have as much of a connection with this set of essays. All in all, I'm glad I read it, but her debut was more relatable to me.

A quick read, It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway is a collection of essays around the idea of change uncertainty, and staying put. While I didn't underline/highlight anything, and I'm not sure I have any takeaways (wouldn't read it again), this was still an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this very much. I had never heard of Elizabeth Passarella (possibly b/c I don't read Southern Living), but I am very glad to have discovered her. I am a sucked for essay collections, but I have been hard-pressed to find great ones written by women that I would return to time and again. I think this collection from Passarella is a keeper.

Passarella is a little older (43? 46?) than most of the women writing. I've read a LOT of Millennial-age collections - and they are good, but don't always resonate. This one from Passarella did. Even though I'm a (cough, decade) older than her, I found her book really relatable. We just purchased a new home last year, and her stories about trying to purchase a new apartment really resonated. I also found her chapter about her mother-in-law endearing as well as chock-full of good advice.

I don't have kids, but Passarella doesn't overly focus on them - they're just part of her life, not her whole focus. So I found the stories that included them very relatable. Passarella is also a practicing Christian. I didn't know that when I requested the book from NetGalley - and I'm glad I didn't b/c (myopically) I probably would have given it a pass. Passarella's faith is a genuine, integrated part of her life, and while her roots are Southern, she's living as a New Yorker and her faith feels like it has evolved to have a bit of New Yorker vibe as well - making it more palatable to a heathen like myself.

Passarella's writing is fun, fresh and easy to read. I'm looking forward to keeping an eye out for her future pieces but also picking up her earlier book, "Good Apple". Oh, what really made me fall in love with this book - Passarella describes reading Ruth Reichl's "Tender at the Bone" (or was it "Comfort Me with Apples"?) and it really resonating with her, just an immediate, visceral reaction. I felt the same way when I read it (ADORE Ruth Reichl!) and felt an immediate kinship with Passarella.

If you like creative non-fiction essays, I heartily recommend "It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway". If those aren't your jam, I'd still give it a try. Definitely worth the time!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC!

What an absolute delight to read! I devoured Elizabeth Passarella’s previous collection of essays, ‘Good Apple’; I resonated with so many of the themes and topics she wrestled with, that I revisit those stories often. This collection felt like an extension of ‘Good Apple’ and exceeded my expectations. There was an excellent balance of poignant moments and laugh-out-loud anecdotes. I was so thoroughly invested in the essays about the (new!) apartment that I’m already looking forward to her next collection.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was really bad. I got a ARC from NetGalley and I liked the title. I figured it would be funny in the way Sloane Crosley is funny. It was not.

First of all I found the prologue, written by the actual actor, to be a horrible indication of what was to come. This is not well written; it’s like reading someone’s diary that is boring and self indulgent. If there were time to change this, I would ask someone else - anyone else to do this on behalf of the author.
Michael’s illness intrigued me- telling it through a religious lens did not. I found all the stories to be fairly dull.
I couldn't get behind the overly holy vibe throughout.

It is rather unique to frame an entire book around selling an apartment, although it felt like a very New York thing to do.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

A collection of interesting essays intertwined with an ongoing story of selling their current apartment in hopes of getting another apartment in the building. I found myself more intrigued with the apartment stories rather than some of the other shorter essays. Enough to where I wanted to look up her instagram to see if there were before and after photos of the new apartment. I loved the sense of humor throughout the book and how she connects with others, including her unique mother in law and Lois. Great read!

I loved this book. Made me laugh and cry.. Wanted to see the layout of the apartment... That's how invested I was reading it. Don't miss this one.
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.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Cute book of entertaining stories about moving on and going forward.

'Really enjoyable essay collection about marriage, parenting, friendship, and—in some of the juiciest bits—New York City real estate. Highly recommended!

I very much enjoyed the authors' introduction and the first part of the book that had to do with the ugly couch. For me, it dive bombed from there .The chapters in between the wonderful story of the couch and discovering the new home she felt was perfect, just went on and on even though they were about different subject matter. Even the story about the new apartment which was only covered at the beginning, the middle and at the end,. didn't seem to have an end in sight.. It got to the point that I didn't care if she moved in or not I would like to thank NetGalley and Nelson Books for the advance read.