A wonderful, warn and wise devotional when life's waters are not always calm. Wee-written. Draws the reader in with thoughtful questions m, deep prose, and poetry. I can see this as a wonderful gift for someone struggling

I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!

I loved the short chapters (blessings), clearly titled to give the reader options to choose what they need at a particular moment. Kate Bowler writes beautifully and with conviction. As someone who lives with chronic pain and illness, I’m drawn to her stories and am inspired by her words.

I love how Kate Bowler combines profound truth with a deep understanding of what it means to be a human living in this time, in this country, navigating all the things *gestures around* Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day is a book of devotions, meditations, and prayers that help us navigate the tension of what it means to be walking through a lot of garbage while still catching glimpses of joy, peace, love, goodness, kindness, gentleness, etc. This is written in Kate's signature style - a little snarky and silly, while also incredibly deep and thoughtful about the human condition. She also includes a series of meditations for lent and advent, which I appreciate!

I was gifted an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Kate Bowler should take all my money, because I will buy everything she writes, so I was genuinely excited to receive her latest collections of blessings from the publisher - you could even say they blessed me!

I've read quite a lot of the blessings in the collection already, have shared one with a friend, which was perfect for a difficult situation she is walking through, and will come back to others as they're relevant. As ever, Bowler's writing is somehow both lyrical and conversational, which I find really helpful when using a prayer written by someone else.

I particularly appreciated that each blessing begins with a verse of Scripture and is followed by a reflection prompt which gives either a practical step or practice. In this regard I feel Have a beautiful, terrible day! falls in between 2 of Bowler's previous collections of blessings/devotions; the blessings are more developed than in The Lives we actually have, but shorter than those in Good Enough.

I love this, and will return to the blessings for years to come.

Kate Bowler is a gift. Her compassion and humor and vulnerability are generously shared with the listeners of her podcast, the audiences at frequent speaking engagements, and readers of her books. She teaches us how to live by living. She teaches us to listen by listening. She teaches us to connect by connecting. And she teaches us to touch the divine by giving us words when we aren't quite sure which to use. Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! contains beautiful turns of phrase, spiritual wisdom, and lots of practical applications. I am always looking for words these days, in situations I can't figure out how I got myself into. Thank you to the author, Convergent Books, and NetGalley for the eARC.

Each entry contains a scripture, introduction, a blessing/meditation/prayer, and ends with a reflection prompt. I appreciate the straightforward format. The first part of the book is dedicated to situations and the second half focuses on the church calendar, however it is easy enough to adapt any of the entries for other uses. Often, we don't even want to use someone else's words, we just need something to get our own creativity started. This book is useful in both public and private settings, as liturgy itself or as a jumping off point for our own words. Anyone who wants help finding the right words will find Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! a precious resource.

This is a wonderful devotional that reminds us that even when life is difficult, God is still with us, always listening to our pleas and desperately whispered prayers.

I love that there are specific devotions for the Lent and Advent seasons.

Highly recommend this book for those seeking encouragement, understanding, and that feeling of being seen and known.

I love that this book has lots of different options and you can just turn to the one that applies to you that day. It reminds me of a book I had when I was young that I found very comforting! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I don’t think it’s possible for Kate Bowler to write something I don’t love. This one, like her previous books of devotionals, is the perfect combination of honest and hopeful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Pub date: January 23, 2024

The cover and title are what caught my eye. This could be a book you jump around in, depending on what’s going on in your life at any given time. I read a few pages each day and found the book very comforting. Thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! by Kate Bowler contains reflections and blessings that help with feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. There are daily entries that do not need to be read in order.

The devotionals are easy to read, with Biblical references along with meditations and reflections for the reader to ponder. The book contains action steps that are easy to understand and implement.

I liked the simplicity of this book and the straightforward information. I would recommend this devotional, and it will be a resource I come back to many times to reset myself as needed.

#HaveaBeautifulTerribleDay #NetGalley

Kate Bowler is really lovely and this book is nice. Her writing is relatable and easy to read. The table of contents makes it easy to find a good passage. This would be a nice gift for someone religious going through a hard period.

Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for the ARC.
The devotionals are helpful with topics like, concerns, day to day things, worries, the ups and downs.
This book is a blessing to read and to have.

As a non-religious reader, "Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day" is a refreshing and insightful book that strikes a unique balance between mindfulness and personal reflection. I appreciated the poems for each meditation, and thoughtful reflection prompts. This book acknowledges that some days can be challenging, making it relatable and genuine. Overall, a well-rounded and enjoyable read that deserves a solid 4-star rating.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC. Kate Bowler once again fuses beautiful poetic blessings with emotional intelligence. This is a book I'll return to time and again.

While I hold to a faith tradition other than Kate Bowler’s I found much grace, inspiration and food for thought in her meditations on her life, and ours in a challenging time. No one can read her musings and come away unaffected. This is a beautiful and meaningful companion to life in our time.

I have read one of Kate Bowler's previous memoirs and am in awe of the strength of her faith given all she has been through. This book is different from her previous memoirs, in that it is a series of short devotionals. I think this would be a lovely book to keep and return to as various struggles impact our lives. I especially enjoyed how each devotional heading addresses a certain feeling or struggle a person might be in, making it easy to find a devotional targeted at one's particular situation at any given time. There are also sections devoted to the Lent and Advent seasons. Each devotional is brief but inspirational, and I can imagine returning to this book often.

Pros: I recently read and loved the author's memoirs (Everything Happens for a Reason . . . and No Cure for Being Human) and was delighted to learn she has written additional books of devotions and blessings. I appreciated that this book contains meditations/reflections for many types of days and that it is not full of toxic positivity. I so appreciate that it acknowledges anxiety and painful times while also finding the beauty in our lives. In addition to being a lovely personal project to work through this book, I think this would make for a resource for groups to explore together because it combines scripture, essay, and prompts.

Cons: None!

Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Kate Bowler is known for crafting witty yet heartbreaking stories of the difficult times she's been through. Now battling Stage IV cancer, she has penned, "Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!: Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens". Bowler uses her trademark transparent honesty when sharing about her life. Each meditation includes a personal anecdote and a poem/prayer for the reader. I was especially intrigued when she shared that the word "precarity" which we take to mean something that's dangerous, actually comes from a word meaning "obtained by entreaty or prayer." Bowler insists that we cannot do all things by ourselves, but rather must rely on others -- God especially.

My favorite blessing includes the phrase, "Blessed are we, the anxious, with eyes wide open to the lovely and the awful." This was a book that I would highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I sat down to read Kate Bowler's "Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!: Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens" in the early days after my release from an 11-day hospital stay to address bladder cancer that would remove my bladder, leave me with an ostomy, unexpectedly also address previously undiscovered prostate cancer, and ultimately leave me having both beautiful and terrible days.

As my recovery continues, a combination of physical healing and adjusting to life with an ostomy while also praying that the removed cancer stays removed, Bowler's ability to tap into the wonder and holiness of what it means to live life faithfully wherever our path takes us continues to be an ability that inspires, informs, and engages with my daily journey.

While Bowler's own journey is by now well documented, I continue to marvel at Bowler's ability to both affirm faith and yet embrace those of us for whom the pressure to be cheerful and optimistic is not only unrealistic - it's downright unhealthy.

"Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!" is inspired, entertaining, witty, vulnerable, and incredibly wise as Bowler invites readers to embrace their true paths and to resist the cultural pressure toward toxic positivity that can often feel particularly overwhelming within the world of faith.

Bowler's invitation into a different sort of faith journey feels truthful, honest, and embracing of those of us whose lives haven't always been embraced within faith circles.

This collection of short, accessible reflections with tangible action steps are proving to be the perfect companion for my own healing journey as I try, sometimes moment by moment, to get through my days whether I'm having a good day, a bad day, a mediocre day, or a day I simply can't define. My life, I would day say, would never be one held up in Christian circles as a lighthouse for the faith. Yet, Bowler gets it. She really, really gets it. Bowler composed these meditations during a season of chronic pain, a season that was often marked by the unpredictability of the life journey. She invites us warmly into feeling the full breadth of our life experiences without hesitation and without shame.

Deeply grounded in both Scripture and daily life, these reflections are typical Bowler - candid, transparent, often quite funny, and always insightful. We're encouraged to look for the ways we can expand our capacity for courage, love, and honesty and a deepened relationship with God. I've also been enthralled by Bowler's inclusion of bonus sections for use during Advent and Lent - opportunities to take these meditations and make them a communal experience.

As someone who is learning how to adjust and embrace my new physical realities, "Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!" is a sacred, loving companion and yet another literary wonder from Kate Bowler.