Kate bowler has a way of puzzling words together that is just so magnificent. Her words make you FEEL: move, cry and smile or even grin out loud.

My favorite way of reading this book is picking it up whenever there’s a feeling of MEH all around me. Like thistles are popping up all around me in my life. (Love the cover art) That’s the moment I pick up this thistle covered book. I browse through the table of contents and choose a blessing that fits the moment.

This book invites you to be honest, real, direct and as a next step to present that whole you to God, because that is who he made you to be.

The effect of this book on me is comforting: there’s humor, so much honesty about pain and life and also a giant dollop of gentleness.

Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! has 89 meditations , some that really touched me were:
- For learning to rest
- When you judge everyone
- Feeling Meh
- Letting yourself be known
Plus there are blessings to read around Lent and Advent.

I especially liked the reflecting prompts, added at the end the meditations. They equip me to envision future moments in new perspective. I see an opportunity to use them as writing prompts while journaling.

So when life is giving you thistles, look at their marvelous blueish purple color and read a chapter or two of this book along the way.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books | Random House for providing an advanced readers copy of this book in return of my honest review. Loved reading it!

This isn’t quite what I expected it to be. It felt wordier than need be and more religious as well. This isn’t quite what I would sell in my bookstore, but there is definitely an audience for it.

As always, Kate Bowler hit her mark. I love that this book can be used in so many ways. It has readings designed for specific spiritual seasons, like amazing Advent readings, but also for specific seasons of our soul, like dealing with unforgiving in our life. I could see myself giving this book to friends in need but also picking it back up time and time again to reread myself.

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.