Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In a world where women's voices are often marginalized, Jessica Doyle-Mekkes offers a beacon of hope and empowerment with her book, "I'm Speaking: Every Woman's Guide to Finding Your Voice and Using It Fearlessly." This is not just another self-help book; it is a revolutionary guide that combines practical speaking tips with profound psychological insights.

Doyle-Mekkes, with her extensive background in vocal coaching and research, presents a manual that is both accessible and deeply transformative. The book is structured to take the reader on a journey from self-discovery to fearless expression. It is filled with brain-science-based techniques that promise to reprogram the reader's approach to communication, both internally and externally.

The author's writing style is fluid and engaging, making complex concepts easy to grasp. She encourages readers to imagine a world without the influential voices of Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai, or Gloria Steinem, underscoring the importance of every woman's voice. Doyle-Mekkes provides the tools necessary to solve common vocal problems and instills confidence that will resonate in all areas of life.

"I'm Speaking" is a call to action, urging women to harness their inherent power and use their voices to ask for what they want, speak up against toxicity, and communicate effectively. The book is a confidence-boosting manual that will leave readers feeling more centered and assured in their ability to convey their messages compellingly.

In essence, Doyle-Mekkes has crafted a guide that is essential for any woman looking to strengthen her voice and presence in the world. It is a testament to the power of speaking up and the transformative effect it can have on one's life and the lives of others. "I'm Speaking" is a must-read for women ready to step into their power and make their voices heard.

Super quick, enjoyable read. I enjoyed the author's informal yet encouraging tone as well as her commitment to making this a fun and humorous how-to guide. I also really liked the anatomical and scientific context she provided in addition to the social and psychological elements that make speaking up difficult for women. I plan to use this as a reference guide before I have to give presentations or have difficult conversations. I recommend this book to any person who struggles to make themselves heard.

A timely, powerful, and empowering read that I hope to see included in curriculums one day. This book was so well written.

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

Much needed and relevant for this point of my life that I am in. For so long, I have allowed myself to be walked on and pushed to the side. Over it! And this book is a part of the journey.

A complete 5 stars for this one!

In all fronts, I find myself needing more tools in how I use and implicate my voice: my personal life, my work life and my general social persona. But this book was more than that, and in that way, certain parts spoke to me more than others. There were sections about confidence, overcoming fear and building habits for success that were all speaking to me while reading this. On the flipside though, I know that this will be one of those novels that will be quite timelines in its' advice and one that I will keep coming to again and again. I've booked marked pages and areas that I want to revisit already!

I loved Jessica's (the author's) way of writing, I felt as though her personality really shone through in may of the passages. It felt like receiving advice from a successful and practical older sister that's trying to get you going with equal parts encouragement and tough love. There are practice sections of the book too that are helpful when trying to find the right exercise for finding your voice or your tone and conveying your message properly. I also particularly enjoyed the summary section at the end of the chapters, as they highlighted each major point once more to really drive the points home.

I love this book for myself, but can already see myself gifting it to close friends and family!
I will be buying myself a physical copy of this one to take notes on, refer back to and flip through more often!

I found this book so timely, as I just returned to work after an 18-month mat leave, and I’m struggling to find my voice and my confidence, getting back in the work came. I’m Speaking completely surpassed all my expectations of the book when I requested it, and I’m already recommending it to friends!!

Some of the areas mentioned in the book are areas I had already earmarked knowing I need to work on, but many of them were things I’d never thought about, and I love love love all the practical strategies and tools she offers for readers (mainly directed at women) to use to improve these areas within ourselves. Like focusing when speaking/ presenting for example. I frequently lose my focus when people say something in the chat, or cough, or leave, or are clearly not paying attention, etc. I’m excited to work on these now after reading I’m Speaking.

I really got a lot out of all the practical information the book provides, in addition to the science backing it. Many chapters she describes a scenario and the work and I found these tangible examples so helpful!!! I also appreciate the chapter summaries at the end, because they are super quick reference guides to everything in the chapter.

I’ve highlighted so many quotes and little parts I want to work on, or share with family and friends and will absolutely be picking up a physical copy of I’m Speaking when it publishes as I want to be able to refer to it frequently.

5 ⭐️ read for me! 🎉💕