I didn't realize the author was THAT Molly who I follow on social media. I just knew when I requested a copy that I found the premise intriguing. Once I started reading (and couldn't put down), I was able to connect the dots, which led me to devour the rest of the book. Molly offers a vulnerability in her memoir that is inviting, humorous and humble. It was both touching and heartbreaking. Highly recommend.

A beautiful testimony and heartfelt story of Molly’s life and her journey as a Christ follower. There were so many funny parts as well as heartbreaking ones. Her mother’s story reminded me of the book “The Women” in all the horrific things the nurses in Vietnam went through and how brave they were to serve. The chapters about her mom dying were devastating but so well written.

The writing is great and as someone who has met Molly and follows her online I can say that the book is very true to her funny and witty personality. Her story is inspiring, especially in the financial aspect, and I look forward to continuing to follow her journey on the farm! A great read.

Equally heartwrenching and heartwarming, this memoir tackles difficult topics with a wonderful sense of humor. The first half of the book centers around Molly's mom and her service as a nurse during the Vietnam War. It was fascinating yet unimaginable to hear of the hurt, trauma, and pain of her journey many years after returning home.

In addition to losing her mom in her teens, Molly unpacks other unique experiences like inheriting a quarter of a million dollars while in college, trying to become a sketch comedian, and a long line of destructive relationships before meeting the right partner. It was interesting hearing about how she became open to faith in the last couple of chapters and how her life radically changed when she accepted Jesus.

While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, most of the stories told within only have one thing in common: they all happened to Molly. There's no real through line in the memoir, meaning some readers may find the chapters a bit disjointed and jumbled. However, if you go into it knowing there's a bit of jumping around, but you're along for the ride, I have a feeling you'll read through it quickly like I did!

I loved this book!!!!! I laughed. I teared up. I found myself feeling exactly the same in some situations. This book resonated with me in so many ways! The short length made this a breeze to fly through as I found myself unable to put it down!
“It’s my story. It’s God’s story. It’s a muddy story, it’s an honest story, it’s a funny story, it’s a sad story , it’s an unfinished story.”
What a statement! Truth and Honesty made this book wonderful!

This book was incredible! Molly's story, her faith, and her disposition throughout was nothing short of inspiring! It felt like catching up with one of your most thoughtful and intentional friends. She dealt with tough topics in a way that felt relatable and immersive while knowing it was honest.

This funny, faith-filled memoir is a strong witness to almost anyone. The writer shares her pain, joy, dreams, harsh realities, failure and triumphs in a smooth narrative and ends with a heartfelt "altar call" appeal. Well done Ms. Shannon.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a page turner and hard to put down. I loved how the writer was so authentic in her writing; but still had a sense of humor and faith added into this story. I highly recommend this book. I also could relate to her as she had a mom who was a nurse in the Vietnam War who had illnesses because of Agent Orange. My father was also in Vietnam and died from a cancer due to Agent Orange. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book free. I actually read the book before I was given this NetGalley copy.

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Title: If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry
By: Molly Stillman

Genre:
Non-Fiction, Memoir, Faith

Red Flags:
None

Favorite Quotes:
“There was a time when I’d fallen flat on my proverbial face in the metaphorical mud and mire, when the God I’d sunned, the God I’d Heismaned, the God I’d Ignored, the God I’d cursed leaned down, lifted my chin out of the muck, looked me in the eye, picked me up, set my feet upon a rock, gave me a firm place to stand, and said, “I got you.”

“Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.”

Summary/Review:
Molly Stillman is a well known blogger, and influencer. This is her memoir. The first half of the novel is her life as a child, the remaining pages of the nonfiction works are based on the fortune she inherited through her estranged father’s family. The content of her story has a great deal to be learned from, however, the transitions between the parts of her story were sudden, and felt broken. I like a plotline which is smooth and flows well. For this reason, I give this novel 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Nelson Books for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreds
#mollystillman #Nelsonbooks
#netgalley #netgalleyreads
#ifidontlaughillcry
#advancedreadercopies

This was a great book. Easy to read and follow. I cried, I laughed and I felt happy. I think this is a wonderful book. The author really went thru something’s in her life but came out of it all a better person.

A perfect blend of laughter and tears...

This wonderful book was true to its title, there were instances when I laughed like crazy and other instances when I couldn't see the words through the tears clouding my eyes. This lovely book tells the story of Molly Stillman’s life and her journey towards faith. She starts from the very first beginning by explaining a brief history of their parents and how they met.

The book's cover and description drew me in, as it felt very relatable. As an overthinker myself, I understand the challenge of sharing intimate moments of doubt and mistakes. Such instances are crucial for personal growth. The author also sheds light on the aftermath of war and its effects not only on those fighting but also on their relatives, recounting her mother's difficulties as a Veteran Nurse exposed to harmful chemicals during her time in Vietnam. She beautifully illustrates her mother’s life amidst struggles, showcasing bravery, courage, desire for peace and kindness that persisted till the very end.

The author masterfully explains the love between her parents and their way of finding joy in the midst of chaos. She also delves into her financial struggles, finding the perfect partner, and navigating through the panic years, making the book relatable for all ages. Finally, she shares her journey towards faith. Ultimately, it is during our lowest moments that we are nearest to God, and this path toward faith is unique for everyone.

Some books stay with us long after we've read them, and I believe this will be one of those for me. The author skillfully explored her experiences dealing with grief, loss, finding her true self, and moving on. It was quick to read and engaging.

I am delighted to have the privilege of accessing this amazing book through NetGalley and leave my honest review.

Amazing. I laughed, I cried, and I laughed til I cried (as the author says in the final chapter). This was beautiful, tender, vulnerable, and eye-opening. I couldn’t imagine the pain Molly went through from such a young age. The stories, while very different from my own life, were so relatable. The shame of financial troubles as a young adult, feeling stuck like you absolutely can’t tell a soul, while heartbreak and disappointment were piling up on top of the shame. Definitely relatable. Thank you Molly for such an honest glimpse of your life and showing the restoration that came from it, and, most importantly, always pointing it back to the gospel and giving God glory in all of it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I wholeheartedly adore this book. I loved learning Molly's story and that of her parents. It made me laugh, it made me cry (books never make me cry), and it made me find a new appreciation for what God can and will get us through. I don't know how to adequately review this book and give it the justice it deserves. I just hope you read it and enjoy it at least half as much as I did.

This autobiography follows the life of Molly, who grows up watching her parents work through recovery, PTSD, family issues and chronic illness, along with her own struggles with self, relationships and financial issues. I enjoyed reading about her life experiences, which balances heavy topics with humor, and often shares her point of view from the age she was at the time of the experience. She is transparent and real in sharing her perspective of self, her flaws and her shame at times. The ending of the book departs from the majority of the book, and almost feels to be written by another person, due to being more concentrated in writing and less lighthearted humor. This portion of the book focus more on her Christian beliefs, which was a surprise, as it was not noted in any description.

I’m not usually a fan of memoir, but I found myself engulfed in Molly’s incredible story and the hope found in these pages. As a special needs mom, I’m always saying if I’m not laughing I’m crying, and humor has gotten me through many a struggle. You will love this book if you too are faced with hard times and want to witness the not-so-pretty picture of powering through and finding the beauty that comes with taking the journey with Jesus.

I didn't read the summary closely enough before reading this book, and that is mea culpa. However, even if I had gone into it knowing that it would become an evangelical plea, I would still have some criticisms. This memoir lacked structure and cohesiveness. My favorite parts were about the author's mother, who was a nurse during the Vietnam War (and wrote her own memoir - one I think I'd enjoy!), and there are some good ponderings in that section. Molly is a skilled writer and thoughtful person. But her story was a long string of "meh" relationships and bad financial decisions leading up to the final conclusion that going to church and tithing CHANGED EVERYTHING. The last 20% is fully loaded with Christian proselytizing, which some people may find inspiring! It fell flat for me.

To be honest, I had no idea who Molly Stillman was when I picked this up... but man, did I chuckle my way through it. I should have known from from the cover it would be funny....that picture, y'all! Really enjoyed "meeting" Molly and ended feeling like her friend!

Unfortunately, the writing is kind of muddled for me. It also felt long - the pace was also a huge problem for me. While I do understand that this is a memoir, but packing is important and it was a bit boring.

Before reading, I had never heard of Molly. Hearing about her struggles and how she shared these details with grace and humility while circling back to her journey of faith amazed me. She has such an interesting story that made me cry and laugh!

Thank you to Net Galley and Nelson Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I struggled with how to rate or review this title. The memoir held my attention, but there aren't any take-aways. The first 3/4 of the book drags out and then wraps up very, very quickly at the end. The subtitle is correct in that it revolves mostly around death (sickness/the death of her mother) and debt, but there's very little about the rest.