I enjoyed listening to this fascinating memoir narrated by the author, Nashville’s first female mayor, Megan Barry. It’s only her side of the story, but it felt very honest. She shares a little bit about her early attempts running for office, her campaign for mayor, and some of the efforts she focused on as mayor. Mostly though, this was about her personal journey as a woman in politics and how it affected her family. She discusses in heartbreaking detail drifting apart from her family, losing her son to substance abuse, an affair she had with an employee that imploded and destroyed her career in politics, and very nearly losing her marriage. And as the title says, the emphasis is on what she does next. Despite all of these challenges, it sounds as though Barry has found her path to a life with more authenticity and balance.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs or is curious about Megan Barry’s life and political career or just enjoys a good story of resilience. The audiobook production was excellent, and I loved Barry’s narration. It was so powerful to hear her tell her story in her own distinctive voice. She knows how to tell a compelling story, so I particularly recommend the audiobook.

I really enjoyed this memoir by Megan Barry. It’s a great opportunity to be a fly on the wall during a political scandal. The author herself tells the story and I think hearing it in her own voice, helps humanize her. It’s a quick and to the point; no deep dives into irrelevant childhood tales or unnecessary stories that I’ve read in so many other memoir’s.

She doesn’t sugarcoat anything that happened. Her raw retelling of her life during this time is poignant and brutally honest. You have to respect someone who makes a mistake and fully owns her actions. Especially in a time where it seems all politicians have affairs or some sort of sex scandal. It shines a light on how normal the public reacts to these scenarios, until it’s a woman who is caught…then heads will roll.

Thank you to #netgalley and #meganbarry for sharing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fantastic listen - loved Barry's honesty and candor in sharing her story. I felt that I understood her struggles and connected with her throughout the story.

Five stars for Megan Barry's brutally honest accounts as a mayor in Nashville, Tennessee, a wife, and a mother. After she is elected mayor in the middle of the bible belt, Barry was a modern thinking leader with a strong approval rating that she seems to be been fixated on since middle grade. Not living in her state I was not aware of her or the mountainous challenges she made for herself. I was riveted and blindsided for the disastrous conclusions to Ms. Barry, her family, and the people who supported her for their future in Nashville. A reader can determine for themselves as she navigates the waters with devastating consequences that no one deserves.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Barry, and Penguin Random House for the advance reader copy in exchange for this honest review.

Not usually a fan of audiobooks, but really enjoyed listening to this one directly from Megan Barry. I found myself not wanting to stop listening once I started it. I laughed. I cried. I empathized. I lived in Nashville during her mayoral election and remember the excitement shared during that time. The vulnerability she shares here is told in well constructed snippets, and the end made me cry like a baby. Thanks to NetGalley and Matt Holt Books for access to this book.