Charming book with a solid takes a refreshingly self-aware 'take what works, leave what doesn't' approach to it's own advice. Really enjoyed and will be sure to order a copy for our library.

An interesting and creative guide to living a more stress-free life. It's an activity book to determine when goblin mode is and how to determine if you're ready to make the change. Overall, it's a good guide to letting go a bit more, but not too much.

This book is a delightful treat. With cute artwork and engaging prompts, you can't help but embrace the goblin within! If you find the weight of societal expectations exhausting, I recommend this book to embrace living your life more freely. I plan on purchasing the physical copy for myself and perhaps as a Christmas gift for a few friends.

I thought this book was very well thought out, however it is not ideal for library shelves as it is more of a workbook than a book you read. I did really enjoy the idea of it though and would recommend it to someone who was looking for a book on how to relax into chaos.

I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of this. I love the time lime and the clarification page. It is so much fun and the examples given make me wonder how the author knew me so well. The journal pages are nice and I cannot wait to try some of the crafts and self care ideas.

5 stars

"Goblin Mode Guide to Life" is a fun and intriguing workbook by the editors of Chartwell Books. I'm not an avid reader of self-help books, but the idea of being happy living in goblin mode made me ask for an advanced reader's copy. I first heard the phrase goblin mode during lockdown as a description of what it was like to not leave the house and know that no one was coming over. Someone in Goblin Mode will not bother to get dressed but sit in pyjamas all day long and drink milk straight from the carton. Goblin mode is about giving up on acting civilised, as no one can see us outside of a Zoom call anyway. I was surprised and intrigued to see this being described as a guide to life.

The cover asks us to embrace our feral side and thrive in imperfection. It seems like a crazy theme for a self-help book. But somehow, it works. This positive spin on goblin mode is presented as an antidote to hustle culture and social media perfection. We are challenged to consider our internalised expectations through a series of writing prompts, quizzes and motivational quotes, which make for a sort of guided journalling project. There are multiple comparisons which can help us to rethink what is truly important, rather than focus on what society expects of us (or what we believe that society expects of us). The book has many blank pages and although my copy was an e-book, I think it would be amazing as a printed copy, where we are encouraged to write in the book and doodle in the margins. I found myself smiling at the illustrations. The message of the book is clear but never preachy: the exercises ask you to actively engage with the subject rather than just passively absorb information. At the same time, it remains lighthearted even while asking you to question everything you have ever held true.

I'm sure plenty of people are horrified at the idea of eating ice cream straight out of the tub or hosting a party and serving delivery pizza. Someone entrenched in an Instagram lifestyle would probably not make it past the first few pages. The exercises repeatedly underscore that happiness doesn't come from a spotless home or a lavish meal but from genuine connections and authenticity. It struck me as clearly targeted at women, with multiple exercises focused on combating societal expectations for us to have the perfect house, the perfect clothes and able to step up to being the perfect host on no notice. However, the humor and the imagery keep the book from taking itself too seriously and make it easier to accept the benefits of cozy authenticity. The reader who is already heading down this road of acceptance will gain the greatest good out of this book. I am already planning to buy a couple of printed books for friends who will enjoy being given permission to be less than perfect.

I'll admit, I hadn't really encountered the phrase Goblin Mode, until I encountered this book. The term has made it into the Oxford English dictionary though, so obviously I needed to up my game and embrace my inner goblin and Goblin Mode Guide to Life has everything I need to do so. It begins by outlining what Goblin Mode is and its benefits of authenticity and self care. The rest of the book is a workbook, where you can work through a list of questions to help you identify what areas of your life aren't working and negative assumptions and thoughts you need to get rid of. It covers every area of your life, so that by the end of the book, you'll know yourself better, have fresh insight and new priorities. The layout of the book is inviting and engaging and I like the "What's worst?" quizzes that give you perspective. It's not all intensive naval gazing either, there's space to doodle and craft and there's inspirational quotes throughout. I'd recommend it to fans of the self help genre and anyone feeling overwhelmed and in need to embracing their inner goblin

This would be fun to give as a gift for Christmas! For a goblin-core lover in your life 😆 Lots of fun quotes, tons of pages to fill out, and cute graphics!

I thoroughly enjoyed the setup of this guide. As someone who doesn't identify with the "clean girl" lifestyle that has been all the rage currently throughout social media, I went to seek other terms. "Golbin Mode" is the perfect way to describe this. I can be messy at times, and love to collect my stuff, but don't always feel like being alone or cooped up in my space. It feels like a term I can work my way in and out of (which I appreciate)

I appreciated the graphics throughout the book; they kept me engaged and wanting to read more. I also enjoyed the different types of activities and how I felt like I could skip around in the activities and work on them as I saw fit. These activities were simple, easy to digest/complete, and very easy to leave and come back to.

Overall, it was exactly what I was hoping for from the title and highlight recommend anyone curious to know if they are suited for the "goblin mode" lifestyle.

What a refreshing self-care workbook! I love the idea of being in Goblin Mode! I really enjoy the way this book is laid out and the journaling prompts. It feels like a very natural pace to work through from front to back. All of the exercises as well as the crafts are well-explained/detailed. The little pictures through out are cute as well! The perfect book to show you how to be a goblin, I would definitely recommend this to everyone I know!

A cute and cozy book on "goblin mode", a more relaxed way of life. The book is really a workbook, with prompts and checklists. I found it entertaining and nicely illustrated.

The people who reviewed it saying it is too political are taking the book more seriously than intended, I think. I did not feel like ideals or politics were pushed on me, not at all. People who get annoyed at this book are definitely not the intended target audience. I feel the author's opinions on for example LGBTQ+ and anti-capitalism are not as pronounced as others say, and they're definitely more the author's personal observations regarding the goblin mode life.

This book would be a great gift to a young person (teenager) who is maybe struggling a bit with everything needing to be perfect all the time. I loved the visual style of the book and the journaling prompts, they can really help someone figure out things about themselves.

A fun guide and workbook for embracing your goblin mode in life, which is embracing letting go of perfectionism, and the things that make you feel inadequate. Goblin Mode means embracing imperfections, and how to live a more content life. With cute illustrations and worksheets to help you on your path to goblin mode, this was a fun read!

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Chartwell Books, Chartwell Books for the ARC!

Goblin mode to life is a workbook / journal that helps yoy achieve full goblin mode in a healthy and happy way. With sections on embracing the chaos, the goblins home, goblin hospitality, self-care, style, work and love this book will help you achieve full goblin mode.
This book was more of a journal than the self help style book I expected it to be but I think it is a great read for those who need to ditch the insta perfect lifestyle and embrace imperfection

This is a fabulous guide to help find your inner goblin. The good news is that you don’t have to let your hair become like a bush and your toe nails become talons. It is more about letting go of perfectionism and the images from social media that make us all feel inadequate. It is more a case of deciding what is a comfortable “good enough for me” approach. There are lots of ideas and space to write down your own thoughts and ideas. Honestly, I can think of lots of people who would benefit from giving them a break from the relentless cycle that leads to stress, burnout and mental health issues. Release your inner goblin.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC.

I absolutely adore this! It’s a cute little workbook that doesn’t shame your inner chaos as flaws!

My neurodivergent brain applauds the author for this one!

"Goblin Mode Guide to Life" by the Editors of Chartwell Books is a refreshing and liberating workbook that celebrates imperfection and self-acceptance. In a world filled with unrealistic standards, this book encourages you to embrace your inner goblin, let go of the unnecessary, and live a more content life. Packed with thought-provoking prompts, fun quizzes, inspirational quotes, and helpful tips, it offers a practical and enjoyable journey to self-discovery and personal growth. With its witty and relatable approach, this book is a valuable companion for those looking to break free from the shackles of perfectionism and embrace a more laid-back, authentic way of living.

This was an adorable lightweight combination primer and workbook on goblin mode life and how it’s going viral.

There’s a lot of discussion over what goblin mode means for various parts of your life like personal relationships, food, and work. And every chapter has some work pages for you to fill out where you can examine what goblin mode would mean for you. And I really appreciated how in describing how when it comes to aesthetics, in clothing or decorating your house, there may be some typical colors or types of things to use, but it’s mostly about your personal vibes and what makes you feel good about what you’re wearing and where you’re living. I al so loved the cute little illustrations throughout the book.

There was a couple moments where the book does mention to find a balance between a more relaxed goblin mode way of living and slipping into not taking care of yourself at all, but I do wish that more time had been spent discussing how to find that balance. Honestly, this just seemed like a really basic, and glossed over a lot of things that could be gone over in more depth.

My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this ARC.

As always, thank you to NetGalley and Chartwell Books for the opportunity to read and review.

I have to say, I do love a cute little workbook. Something that's a break from day to day life. If you're a creative, especially one trying to get out of a slump, these little books can be exactly what you need.

While this workbook is very cute and does dive deep in making you think, I wouldn't say it holds as close to Goblin Mode as I was expecting. The aesthetic here is much more cottagecore than goblin core, which doesn't quite fit with the theme. Most of the prompts still work, but many others are a bit too black and white, without giving wiggle room. Even the pages where it's asking you to answer prompts seem too clean cut for the vibe it should be going for. Perhaps there will be some slight changes between the digital and physical editions.

Overall it's a fun little workbook, but I would really say this is more trying to push a mental Goblin Mode into a whimsical CottageCore way of thinking. I think workbooks like this are great for helping you think about your mindset and get out of a funk, but several of the prompts may feel too much like it's a forced perspective rather than the slow climb many need to emerge from the Goblin Grotto.

3.5
Goblin Mode Guide to Life does exactly what it wants to do - to be a unique workbook that helps you have a better understanding of Goblin Mode and the importance of self-acceptance and just ‘let go’. It has cute illustrations of little goblins and mushrooms to complement the idea. And I especially like how it listed all the positive and negative vocab around Goblin mode because it helps me to reflect on my own lexicon and whether I could sound judgemental even though I’m not trying to.
The word Godlin Mode has been a fascination to me ever since the Oxford English Dictionary chose it as Word of the Year in 2022, but I never really grasped the full meaning of what it is and what it entails. In short, Goblin Mode is a state of mind to prioritize yourself and your comfort first. Embrace self-acceptance and let go of the societal pressure, and release yourself from unrealistic standards. Some people probably started to live in Goblin Mode since the pandemic when the world was temporarily put on hold and we all had to take a step back from social life, which turned out to be a much-needed breather for most people. This workbook did give me a much clearer view of it, and it confirmed that I’m indeed living in Goblin Mode 24/7 even before the pandemic without realizing it. I mean, why bother using a straw when you can just drink Coca-Cola straight from the can? It tastes better that way anyway.
I like that I’m living in this state of mind where I don’t care about people’s opinions; I stop living on social media, wondering about what other people are doing; and I don’t care about whether I live up to the beauty standards or whatever the society expects women my age do. But even though I know this is probably not the intention of this book, I do feel like sometimes I can get stuck in this zone a bit too much that I still need to get out of it once in a while, But still, I’m happy with my state of mind right now.
Goblin Mode Guide to Life is more like a self-reflective journal template with thought-provoking exercises and quotes and cute illustrations, than a self-help book. I can definitely see myself using some of the questions in my own journal in the future for a deep dive into my own mind. But I guess I originally started this book with the prospect of something more informational and deep about Goblin mode. Overall, it's a really cute little book about Goblin Mode and helpful enough to shed some light on the topic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chartwell Books for providing this eARC.

This was a cute workbook that tried to get people to live more carefree, authentic lives. I do wish it had slightly more content and reasoning, instead of just writing activities.