Sister Monica Clare's life started out tragic and at times I did't want to keep reading due to the harshness of her early life. I am glad I read to the end of the book though. She is a strong and devoted woman who kept seeking God and working through her struggles. Thank you for allowing me to read this book. The title and description led me to want to read it to see if I would use it as a gift.

I loved this book, every page. It was a fascinating glimpse into the world of Episcopalian nunnery, but it was also a beautiful journey of a woman discovering her place in the world. All of us are looking for 'home' and this was a well-crafted story of finding your way there. It was a refreshing read -- different, interesting, enlightening, inspiring, and well-written. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest feedback (and thanks for publishing this delightful read).

This is a wonderful memoir of a woman that gave up everything to become a nun. At a very young age, she had thoughts of becoming a nun and was fascinated by the movie, “The Nun’s Story”. She grew up in a very difficult lifestyle, where she had experienced violence in her home. Her and her Family moved a lot when she was a child, finding it hard to figure out where she fits in. As she grew older, she still struggled of where to fit in. Although she felt like it was tough to fit in, she always made people laugh!

Her journey as she navigates through life to finding her true self is inspiring. I would not become a nun myself. However, I do feel that finding your true happiness and identity is important in life and that is what this book represents. She ends up getting Married and Divorced, which ends up freeing Sister Monica Clare! I enjoyed the pictures that were shared throughout the book, her vulnerability in writing this book, and her happiness and laughter she shared with the world in writing this book! It is unique and kept my interest while reading it! I give this memoir a 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Sister Monica Clare, and Crown publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This memoir is set to be published on April 29, 2025!

This was such an unexpected surprise! I enjoyed the writing style a lot and felt a kindred connection with Sister Monica Clare. Her story is a difficult one, but inspiring and so full of hope. The beginning was a little slow to get through, but I'm so glad I stuck with it because hearing her journey was absolutely worth it.

I am so thankful for this book in this season of my life, as I have always been thankful when the sisters have popped up in my journey. Like the author, I am neither Roman Catholic nor Episcopalian, but there's something about the rhythm of nunnery and the gentle spirit that just draws on me.

I am a chaplain. At least, I was once; I believe God will make that happen for me again. In a season in which that call was so close and seems to have been suddenly thwarted, I am learning the kind of patience while holding on that the author talks about in her own journey. At the same time, reading about the way that she settled into the place she was always called to be, it has brought a stillness to my soul that I have deeply missed. Just yesterday, my boss asked me if I was okay. "You're quiet," he said. I'm at peace, I thought. And it has been such a long time since I have been at peace.

I'm not saying the book elicits this, but I think it helped guide me in a season in which my heart was ready for this kind of rest. As we know, God does things in His timing, and He brought this book to me at precisely this time for a reason. I am thankful for the gift.

Blessings to you, Sister. And to your sisters.

The journey of self discovery can take many twists and turns. Claudette, now Sister Monica Clare, chronicles her journey becoming an Episcopalian nun. She honestly and insightfully shares the steps she took along the way to get to her final destination and how doors kept closing for her until the right one opened. I appreciated her determination and trust to follow the calling in her heart.

This is a compelling read that demonstrates how you don't have to settle for the conventional life if that is not your hearts desire. I think that this is a good read for all ages, young adults starting out on their own, mid lifers who have lived a little and may be searching for their purpose, and anyone who has ever taken wrong turn after wrong turn only to eventually get to right where they belong.

I grew up attending a Catholic school for the first 4 years, and I loved how the nuns would live. I felt they had simple lives and were supposed to become nuns. But after reading "A Change of Habit," I realized that any normal person could become a catholic nun. This book has taught me how Sister Monica Claire was and is still just like anyone out there. She made that change in her life because she felt led to do so. If you're searching for a good book about following your heart and who you are. I loved it, returning me to my school days at St. John's.

This is a memoir from an Episcopalian nun on the brink of becoming a priest, currently Superior at her convent in Mendham, NJ. She had a very difficult childhood marked by domestic violence. She was drawn to the book "The Nun's Story" as a child (of which a movie had been made starring Audrey Hepburn) and the idea of becoming a nun. She dabbled in acting and became part of The Groundlings improv group circle that harvested cast members for Saturday Night Live, becoming especially close with actress Cheri Oteri of SNL fame. She also was married and divorced, making a living as a photo editor in LA, and even performed as part of an acoustic rock duo.

I loved the way the sister shared how peaceful, right, and at home she felt in the convent environment, but so aptly described the challenges of being fully accepted into the order, with all its rules, customs, and silence. It was a revelation to learn that you must settle all your financial debts in order to become a part of this religious order. I appreciated the personal photos interspersed throughout the book from all stages of her life. This was certainly a full-bodied and inspirational account of a very interesting life.

Thank you to Crown Publishing who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

i'm not a religious person at all and what worked for Sister Monica Clare probably wouldn't work for me (or most), but this memoir was well-written and powerful. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

A well written, interesting book. A bit sad, but it shows that you should keep going for what you want. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This was a very interesting memoir with many twists and turns! I wasn't even aware Episcopalians had nuns so was very interesting to see what they are like. Some parts were a little repetitive and meandering but overall I liked it.

In this warm, relatable, and yes, soulful, memoir, Sister Monica Clare details her hardscrabble childhood, career disappointments, and other missteps on her way to fulfilling God's calling to the Episcopal sisterhood. That's the first half of this wonderful book. In the second Sr. Monica reveals that when she finally entered the convent of St. John Baptist, she struggled for years with feelings of inadequacy and frustration, as she adapted to the written and unwritten rules of her order and the eccentricities of her sisters. But It is clear that by the end Sr. Monica has found both her earthly and spiritual homes and is exactly where she needs to be.

This book, which is due to be officially published in April 2025, is currently being mis-marketed as "hilarious." Although Sr. Monica was once a L.A. based comedy writer, this is not a funny book. Rather, this memoir tells an authentic story about feeling like a "fish who is trying to climb a tree" and how listening to that still, small voice can lead the way to joy, even when the path seems crooked and the journey too long.

Highly recommended as the best book I've read so far this year.

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

An interesting read. Meet Claudette, who from the age of five wanted to be a nun. We watch her grow, from a young child, experiencing an atrocious childhood, to a forty something adult, becoming a 'religious' in the episcopal church. Claudette, who became Sister Monica Clare, has little self-esteem, feels very unloved and is a mess of nerves slowly becomes something more once she enters the sisterhood.

This was such an interesting memoir and unlike any I've read before. I loved it and flew through it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I LOVE this book, and greedily consumed it in one sitting. I found every page transformative, and this strong woman's story is inherently addictive! Many thanks to the author for her openness and her honesty regarding her personal journey. I was raised a Quaker in a small rural community, and I too, have dear with struggles regarding where I fit in the bigger picture.

I wanted to mention this is not an inherently "religious" book (I personally veer away from such books) but rather a search by someone to discover her own place of acceptance in this turbulent world; I enjoyed every page, and I would rate it 10 stars if I could! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

In "A Change of Habit", Sister Monica Clare offers a profound and deeply personal narrative that captures the essence of radical transformation and spiritual awakening. This memoir recounts her extraordinary journey of leaving behind a successful career, a stable marriage, and all worldly possessions to embrace a life of devotion and service as a nun.

The memoir is an intimate confession and a philosophical exploration of faith, identity, and the pursuit of true purpose. Sister Monica Clare's writing is eloquent and introspective, allowing readers to fully engage with her internal struggles and epiphanies. Her honesty about the challenges she faced—both external and within herself—adds depth and authenticity to her story.

Throughout this book, Sister Monica Clare delves into the reasons behind her decisions, the emotional and practical hurdles she encountered, and the profound peace she ultimately found in her new life. Her narrative is rich with anecdotes and reflections that shed light on the often-misunderstood life of a nun, offering readers a glimpse into the daily routines, joys, and sacrifices involved in following this spiritual path.

"A Change of Habit" is much more than a memoir; it is a testament to the power of faith and the human spirit's capacity for change. Sister Monica Clare's journey is a reminder that true fulfillment often requires letting go of the familiar and taking bold steps into the unknown.

Along this journey are delightful stories about her days (pre-habit) as a stand-up comic, including her famous friends and tales about rubbing elbows with immediately recognizable comedic geniuses.

Highly recommended for readers interested in memoirs, personal growth, and stories of profound transformation.

Sister Monica Clare's "A Change of Habit" is an inspiring and thought-provoking read that will resonate with ANYONE seeking to understand the deeper meaning of life and purpose.

A wonderful read a memoir of a woman who gave up her unfulfilling life her marriage her job to become an Episcopal nun.She shares with us her new life with and openness.This was a really interesting look at what it actually means to be a nun giving you life to service.#netgalley #crown

Interestingly, no description that I read of this book said Sister Monica Clare became an Episcopalian nun. Thus, it was a surprise to discover she didn't become a Catholic nun. I never knew the Episcopalian church had nuns. She considered becoming a Catholic one due to movies, such as The Nun’s Story, but didn't agree with their teachings on birth control, gay rights and women priests. A Catholic nun she corresponded with suggested she was an Episcopalian at heart, and off she went to that church.

Sister Monica Clare dealt with lots of trauma growing up in Georgia in the '60s-'80s. Both of her parents had psychological problems at times, and her father would sometimes severely beat her mother. She made it through those childhood years, becoming a perfectionist and caretaker, and had successful careers as an adult. She also had one marriage that was far less successful. Her husband was strange, refused to ever kiss her, was gone for long periods of time, and said hurtful things to her. After she discovers emails on his laptop to and from other women, they go into marriage counseling, and she decides the marriage is over.

As she apparently eventually saw it, her husband was a "sex addict" and she was enabling him. Which sex was he addicted to? Seriously, there was sign after sign he was not only a misogynist, but a closet homosexual who used and emotionally abused women. He knew she was going to find those emails when he agreed to let her use his laptop, but the author seemed to believe he did not. This definitely seemed like a man who desperately wanted to be seen as a womanizer, and desperately wanted his marriage to continue, because he needed coverups. Was she oblivious to that or not?

Their divorce freed Sister Monica Clare to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nun and maybe even a priest. It was a long road, though, due to financial debts. She had to be debt free to join a convent. This is when the story started to drag, in my opinion. What went on at the convent was only mildly engaging, too. Moreover, the whole time she is going through the stages of being accepted as a lifelong member of the convent, there is her constant talk of her insecurities. Not trying to be unkind here, but I got tired of reading about all her fears.

Eventually, the sister is sent to New York City to work in a church program for the poor and homeless. The author does an excellent job describing to the reader exactly what went on when homeless people are sleeping in a church all day, because the homeless shelters are only open at night. She had lived in New York City, too, so it wasn't a foreign land to her. While she did have her fears, however, since many of the homeless were big men with shaky mental health, those fears seemed quite understandable, unlike all her never-ending fears at the convent.

Could Sister Monica Clare also become a priest? In the Episcopalian church, a woman could be both. Yet, unlike women priests who were not nuns, she could never marry and had no desire to marry again anyway. She didn't go into that much specific detail about how she became a priest, but it was a dream come true for her, just as it was becoming a nun. One important thing this memoir is trying to show is it's never too late to become who you think you should be, and you will never feel free and at peace until you do.

Loved this book. Meaningful.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I received a free copy of, A Change of Habit, by Sister Monica Clare, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Monica Clare did not become a nun, until she was in her thirties, but she felt drawn to being a nun, since she was a child. I thought this was an ok, read, I did not connect with Sister Monica Clare at all.

There are times when you sit down with a book that you enter a world of discovery.

You discover a new author you love.

You discover a story with which you connect.

You discover a world that is simultaneously different than yours yet also feels somehow related to your own life experiences.

This has happened more than once to me, perhaps because I'm prone to immersing myself in stories and surrendering to an author's will. I'm a kinder and gentler reader and reviewer, someone who looks for the good and quite often finds it.

I am not not will I ever likely be a nun. I do not live in an intentional community of any sort nor can I particularly identify with having a fast-paced, high-powered career of any type from which to escape. In some ways, I am nothing like the Sister Monica Clare whose story is found in the pages of "A Change of Habit: Leaving Behind My Husband, Career, and Everything I owned to Become a Nun."

Yet, so immersed did I become in her story that even though her name change doesn't surface until around 2/3 into the book that as I sit here writing I can't for the life of me remember her birth name).

That's a good thing.

Now then, to acknowledge that I do have some common ground with Sister Monica from traumatic, unstable childhoods to a seeming inability to function normally in relationships because there was always something else. I identify with that sense of feeling unsatisfied no matter how satisfied I've become.

"A Change of Habit" is both a simple and remarkable story. It's a story of a woman who knew as a young girl she was called into a spiritual life yet spent many years trying but struggling to live into the expectations of those around her and a culture that has never quite understood the religious life. It is a memoir, of this have no doubt, but it is also a glimpse inside the normalcy of human beings who dedicate themselves to live authentically a life into which few feel called and even fewer respond to that call.

Sister Monica writes beautifully throughout "A Change of Habit" about the feelings that constantly followed her throughout a career that paid the bills but was woefully unsatisfying and a marriage that we all could see, and she could see, was never meant to be. She also writes about the consequences of following a life that one's not called into as she struggled with resolving the debts that could keep her from entering into her religious community and emotionally struggled to surrender to a world where she no longer needed to prove her worth to simply "be."

"A Change of Habit" doesn't romanticize the religious life. In fact, it's portrayed quite realistically from personality foibles to strict rules to the inherent risks of vulnerably serving others who are, in some cases incapable emotionally or physically of knowing how to respond to that care. Yet, along the way we began to deeply appreciate Sister Monica as she moves away from her pop-culture obsessed life into a world where even simple actions like saying "please" and "thank you" can draw admonishment and the more stoic life can make it seem like those around you wish you were gone.

I am seemingly not the target reader for "A Change of Habit." I'm a paraplegic/double amputee born with spina bifida who survived cancer twice in the past year. I'm in my 50s having survived much longer than anyone expected. I work on the management team for a large government agency and am in many ways a world away from the world created in "A Change of Habit." I was raised in what I would now call a cult or close to it (Jehovah's Witnesses) and have spent most of my life trying to undo the damage from being booted from two churches, one because they believed I was gay and one because of a suicide attempt (which was true).

And yet, I am the target reader for "A Change of Habit." I have long believed that I've survived this long because of my faith. I survived childhood traumas, including sexual abuse, because of my childhood faith. I survived the suicide of my wife and death of our newborn because of my faith. I have long felt called into ministry, at times leaning into it with roles in pastoral care, interim ministry, children's ministry, and pulpit fill, but I've never surrendered to it partly because of a body that never cooperates and partly because of the "otherness" created from a lifetime of trauma.

I am, at least in my eyes, a failed seminarian (I graduated, but not with the MDiv that I desired) and I have long questioned if I belong anywhere. Yet, I'm also a longtime activist who has traveled over 6,000 miles in my wheelchair supporting non-profits and I often say that I'm happiest living life at 2-3 miles per hour.

Indeed, I must say that by the end of "A Change of Habit" I felt a certain kinship with the world created by Sister Monica and the ways that she has influenced it especially since growing into the role of Sister Superior. "A Change of Habit," at least for me, planted seeds of appreciation for the world I do live in, messy yet glorious. It helped me recognize gratitude for the life I do live and the ministry I do have even if it's not the ministry I pictured myself having. It helped me appreciate those who give themselves to a deeper spiritual life and who turn away from capitalism, a desire for authority, a desire for power, and other things taught by a society often more focused on "I" than we or than on God.

At times remarkable in its vulnerability and other times quite funny, "A Change of Habit" is a lot things - a wonderful memoir, a powerful spiritual guide, a reminder of the glorious gifts of women in our faith communities, and a gentle nudge for all of us to lean into our authentic selves.