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!

Glory Edim's love of books is woven into the fabric of her memoir. Her ability to keep herself on a steady path through a difficult upbringing by reading and relating to what various authors have written is remarkable. I commend her. As a reader myself, I can relate to what she did with her life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this memoir and the accompanying books that shaped the authors life. The writing was good and it gave me a new perspective on the books that I have read. It will one that I will revisit as I read the books/authors noted that I have yet to read and look forward to more stories from this writer.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Gather Me explores author Glory Edim's life through the lens of the books she encountered over the course of her life.

What an interesting and inspired format for a memoir! A memoir with a side of literary analysis, and a strong argument for the power of reading. This memoir is beautifully written, deeply introspective and artfully realized. I didn't know much about Edim before picking up this book -- I'd heard of Well-Read Black Girl, but didn't really know what it was since it became super popular around a time when I had no bandwidth for personal reading -- but getting to see a person's life through the lens of the books that meant the most to them is such a joyful gift. Books have always been an essential part of my identity, always had a major role in shaping my sense of self and the way I view the world, so it was a joy to sink into a memoir that centers on the ways in which our experience can inform and be informed by what we read.

A memoir of Edim's, the founder of Well Read Black Girl, life up to now. Each chapter begins with a list of books that shaped her in that part of her life. Edim found comfort in books at an early age as the daughter of Nigerian immigrants with many of their own problems. It was interesting to read about her life, especially the challenges that she faced with her mom.

What a stunning tribute to the power and importance of books! Glory Edim wrote an intellectual, spirited ode to books in this memoir that had me experiencing all the feels. As the daughter of immigrants, so much of what Ms. Edim said brought back a flood of memories from my own childhood, allowing me to recall the power of books in my own life and how they offered me a means me to rise above the difficulties of growing up as "other".

"𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅, 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒕𝒉, 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 - 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉."

There are so many more worthy quotes in this book, and the storytelling is magnificent. Ms. Edim certainly learned the art of storytelling from her father. I was absolutely hooked from the first page!

For a stunner of a memoir that is so relevant today, look no further!

My gratitude goes out to partners, Penguin Random House & NetGalley, for this gifted review copy.

If you have been following @wellreadblackgirl girl at any point in the last decade, you know the love that Glory has for Black women and their art, especially the literary arts. This memoir, organized by books, the artists that made them, and vignettes about their impact on Edim’s life, is not only a testament to Glory’s love of us but a guidebook and confessional of how she came to love herself.

The beautiful form is in the tradition of Edim’s earlier works, bound to introduce readers to new texts and allow the reader to dip in and out of the windows of her deeply personal experiences. There are beautiful sentences, some curated and some crafted by Edim, that made me pause, highlight, and put the book down to reflect and react—the reaction often being a full-blown snot-nose cry.

I highlighted so many passages from this book. The way Glory Edim intersected her life experiences with the books that shaped her, empowered her, and healed her truly moved me. Edim, shares her personal journey with raw honesty and grace. From the trauma of family upheaval to the joy of discovering Black writers who made her feel seen, Edim’s reflections are both deeply personal and universally resonant.

What stands out most is Edim’s passion for the written word—how literature became her refuge, her teacher, and her community. Her stories of encountering giants like Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde are moving and relatable to anyone who’s ever found themselves in the pages of a book. But beyond being a memoir of one woman’s life, Gather Me is a celebration of the power of representation and the importance of diverse voices in literature.

Perfect for fans of memoirs that speak to resilience and self-discovery, Gather Me is a book that reminds us how stories can shape who we are, giving us strength, comfort, and connection when we need it most.

I haven't yet read Glory Edim's other memoir Well-Read Black Girl, but I came across her story before.

Since I haven't read her other memoir, I can't speak to how they compare, but this was a very powerful love story both to Edim's love of reading and to her family. Her love for both was present in every chapter. Edim's way of writing draws you into her story, which was both authentic and poignant.

Recommended if you like stories about reading and how books can bring meaning and peace and joy and power through the various ups and downs of life.