4.5 Stars

I had heard of Well Read Black Girl before reading this book but I wasn’t super familiar with it or Glory. This is a heartfelt memoir that beautifully captures the ways books can shape and sustain us through life. I really loved how she is planning on weaving these stories in with her child's life as well. She had such wonderful reflections on the power of storytelling. Just like everyone else she was trying to find her place in the world, and I loved seeing which books helped her do that. This book is such a wonderful reminder of how books and words can carry us through both the good times and the bad times. If you are someone who loves to read, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Thoughtful, powerful, and poignant. Glory Edim's memoir weaved a beautiful tapestry of work of words (books) liberatee her life. I completely understand her relationship with books. I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

Gather Me by Glory Edim was one of my favorite reads of 2024!

In Gather Me, Glory welcomed me into her world from the very start-- describing a kitchen filled with rich spices and Nigerian delicacies. She gave me a written tour of her home and community, filled with books, books, and more books. My eyes grew wide at all the discoveries and vivid descriptions. I was in awe of the way her father weaved stories from the objects around their home and grew sad when he left suddenly for Nigeria.

And as I continued to read, I learned that Glory and I had a few things in common. We both owned the same yellow bible story book that materialized from thin air one day. We both found safety and comfort in the library. And most importantly, we both grew a habit of seeking solace in the written word. Like Glory, I was often reading novels as a kid, hoping to find direction and instruction within the paragraphs.

I found it endearing to read the story of a woman I admired have similar experiences to mine. She too, was trying to find her place in the world around her so often. She was also making room for herself in the books she devoured at the local library. I find it so beautiful that she references the books she was reading during pivotal moments in her life as well. I always say that books find us at just the right time and each instance was a testament to that. The magic of words carry so many of us through the good times as well as the bad and Gather Me was a poignant reminder of that.

Glory champions for those of us who found safe spaces in libraries, novels, short stories and poems.

Glory, thank you for all the love, honesty and transparency you poured into this book. For all the books you've seen yourself in, I'm grateful you've allowed me to see myself in parts of yours.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of Gather Me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC copy! This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions.

Glory Edim's Gather Me is a heartfelt memoir that beautifully captures how books can shape and sustain us throughout life. I truly enjoyed hearing Glory’s personal story and her reflections on the power of storytelling. While I don’t usually like to rate memoirs, I deeply appreciated the vulnerability and honesty in the stories she shared. Her love for literature is contagious, and now I’m eager to dive into some of the books she mentioned. This memoir is a testament to the healing and transformative power of words—a must-read for anyone who finds solace in books.

Rating: 4/5

I have followed the word of Glory Edim (Well-Read Black Girl) for years, and so I was delighted to receive a copy of Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me. It's a book for all of us who were saved by books. And, it's an especially poignant look at the role of Black writers and Black female writers.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This is a moving, deeply personal memoir, with the stories that shaped Glory Edim woven seamlessly into the threads of her life. I particularly loved the way this book is arranged, with each chapter the title of a significant book, providing at once a window into her reading life as well as an identifiable guidepost to her age and experience. Edim, the renowned founder of Well-Read Black Girl offers entry to a wide range of wonderful writers as she tells her story, some I nodded along to in agreement, others I added to my ever-expanding to-read list. Even without the bonus of a book about books, Edim's story would be worth telling; I was awed and humbled by her many accomplishments.

i love books about books, and this one did not disappoint.

this is a thoughtful, honest memoir about the power of books over the course of one lovely life, and i loved its reflective writing. there were moments its unique structure led to redundancies or inconsistencies, but not enough that it outweighed how wonderful it was to read about the author's life through the lens of the books that changed it.

i really enjoyed this.

Glory Edim has written this memoir in such a way to not only give the reader a glimpse into her life but to also describe how books have gotten her through both good and difficult times. As a child of Nigerian immigrants, Glory’s family had to adapt to a new culture in the United States, a country that is known for racism and disdains immigrants. She had to also learn to adjust to the break up of her parents’ marriage, loss of contact with her father and her mother’s ongoing depression. In many ways, Glory had to “be the parent” but she managed to find strength in her reading and especially in particular books which she discovered at just the right times. I found this memoir to be engaging and interesting and liked the way she started each chapter with a list of books that were meaningful to her and then referred to passages in the books throughout her own personal journey. Such a unique way to tell her story!

GATHER ME: A MEMOIR IN PRAISE OF THE BOOKS THAT SAVED ME by Glory Edim was an immersive experience, blending her life, her career, and her love of books together.

I am drawn to books about books, but sometimes the execution leaves me wanting; not so with GATHER ME. Edim strikes a perfect balance between exploring impactful books and mirroring them against the events of her life, including the development of Well Read Black Girl. I found myself resonating with the format, which flowed so naturally.

Edim doesn't shy away from being transparent about the struggles she's faced, and her vulnerability is much of what captivated me. I was previously unaware of her mother struggling with depression and being mute and catatonic for five years; Edim's chapter on Audre Lorde beautifully broke me and brought me to tears as I dwelled on my own complex relationship with my mother.

This was an absolute gift to read, one I savored and am so glad I came across when I did.

(Thank you to Ballantine for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

It's hard to know where to begin with a review of this book. You might think the natural place is at the beginning of the story, but the sheer depth of relatability in this work makes it overwhelming—in the best possible way.

Every reader’s journey into books begins differently. Some, like me, might start with those simple 10-peso books sold near schools or at the market, which doubled as coloring books and storybooks. Others, like Glory Edim, may have been captivated by stories read to them by a parent, finding themselves drawn into the magic of words from an early age.

There’s something truly special about finding yourself in a story. Often, we read for enjoyment, but every so often, a character resonates deeply with us. They face the same struggles, joys, or quirks, and that recognition becomes profoundly personal. It’s in those moments that fiction feels less like escapism and more like a shared understanding—proof that you’re not alone. And that’s exactly what Gather Me does so beautifully.

What stood out most to me was the way Edim paced her narrative. It felt unsettling, but in a meaningful way, as she began with the raw and formative experiences of her childhood. This approach created an immediate connection, drawing readers into her story with openness and vulnerability. The way she ended her book—with the birth of her own child—completed a poignant cycle of life, tying everything together in a way that felt both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Books are essential, not just as sources of knowledge or entertainment, but as lifelines to new worlds, shared experiences, and, sometimes, much-needed solace. Gather Me isn’t just the story of a woman finding purpose in reading and writing; it’s a powerful reminder that even in our loneliest, darkest moments, we are never truly alone.

Gather Me by Glory Edim is an engaging portryal and view of life, its challenging and those we love.

To me, the best memoirs help you see yourself in the story of someone else...and I've never felt more seen by a book.
A "third culture" kid, trying to find her place between worlds, and seeking solace and insight from books?
Glory and I are kindred souls, and it's no surprise that a fellow Well-Read Black Girl would feel this way.

Gather Me is an indispensable invitation to revisit the books that have shaped you, and it's one I plan to extend to all the bookworms in my life...accompanied by a copy of this book.

Gather Me is the story of the child of immigrants, Growing Up in a world that didn't cherish who she was. I loved how reading was both an escape and a way to explore who she was. I recommend this book for lovers of memoirs and those wanting to read more from bipoc authors .

An interesting coming of age story and a love letter to all the books she loved before.

The chapters read more like short stories than a connected memoir, which isn’t my favorite format. I had a hard time staying interested, even though Glory as an influencer/public figure fascinates me.

Lots of other important books added to my queue!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the early copy!

This book is an interesting look at how many different types of books influenced Ms. Edim's life as she grew up. It is a nice introduction to a variety of books, leading to a well read, well rounded person.

A relatable book-inspired memoir from the Well Read Black Girl. The secrets and loss that shaped her makes for a heartfelt narrative. I want to have coffee with Glory and talk books and family. I found her letter to her son my favorite chapter. Her fears and devotion are from a motherly place of love that is instinctual. Her takeaways from the books that shape each chapter made me think about her experience as a first generation American so different from me but so much the same.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

This is Glory Edim’s memoir but it is also her story of the books that were there every step of the way. Born as a first generation American to Nigerian parents, Glory grew up in the DC area as a dedicated book person. From using books as an escape from her parents rocky marriage, through her mother’s illness, to life as a college student and when navigating relationship, Glory shows just how much a well written book can impact a life. Glory Edim founded the Well Read Black Girl book club and continues to share her love of reading with others and is a testament to the power of books. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

I love books about books! Anyone that thinks books don't change your life is clueless!

Glory does a great job of sharing what books/authors shaped her life. I love how she told her own story with a variety of literature that was important to her. My heart hurt for her as she told the story of her childhood and her family's struggles.

I'm definitely going to follow Well Read Black Girls on instagram now. Thank you, Glory, for sharing your story with us. You've also given me more books to add to my TBR list.

Thank you to NetGalley, Glory Edim, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read Gather Me. I have written this review voluntarily.

GATHER ME
Glory Edim

“We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.”
Anais Nin

GATHER ME is a journey through the pages of the books that influenced and shaped who Glory Edim is. If not for Toni, Maya, James, and Audre, Edim would not be who she is today.

Literature is transcendent, life-giving, and life-affirming. And it is an imperative part of forming empathy for those around us, and ourselves. It helps us to give voice to our feelings. It helps us know who and what we want to be in this world.

Reading helps us to feel seen.

I enjoyed my experience and loved spending a little time with Glory. I thought about all of the books that have shaped and informed me and I now have a few more books to add to my to-read list.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!

GATHER ME…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There are books that take me back to a time in life when I first read them. The original covers of The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Harriet the Spy put be back into my childhood bedroom where I read the books my mom brought home to share with me. The opening lines of The Outsiders puts me in Middle School where S. E. Hinton captures teenage angst just north of my hometown. This is what Glory Edim does with Gather Me. She tells her own story of growing up in Virginia with immigrant parents and the books that she says saved her. What a beautiful way to share the books that shape a life!