Happy Happy SATURDAY, everyone!
It’s the 22nd of the month which means…
…it’s time for BOOK CLUB #13!
Yay! I love Book Club Day!
Okay, just to recap before we begin…
Here are the books we discussed in 2024 along with my own personal “star ratings”…
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey 4 STARS
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 5 STARS
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins 3 STARS
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin 3 STARS
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth 4 STARS
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl 2 STARS
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand 3 STARS
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams 3 STARS
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult 4 STARS
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker 4 STARS
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout 2 STARS
And so far in 2025, we’ve discussed:
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry 5 STARS
If you want to check out any of these Book Club posts, they are all HERE!
Before we get to today’s book, let’s revisit the “rules” of Shay’s Book Club:
Here are the details:
1: On the 22nd of each month, I will share a BONUS blog post that is only about the book we read together that month. So, if it falls on a weekend, look for it that day, if it falls on a Tuesday, expect a food post, a normal lifestyle post AND third post just for the book review discussion.
2: I picked the 22nd because I want this post to come out BEFORE our normal monthly BOOK REVIEW POSTS. I will still share my normal monthly book reviews (where I average 4 to 6 books a month) at the end of each month. I will reference said “book of the month”, but I will not be reviewing it on that post, I will be linking back to the BOOK CLUB POST. Why? Because I want all of the content about the one specific book club book in one spot instead of spread out over multiple spots.
3: Each month at the end of the Book Club blog post, I will share what the book will be for the following month. This will give everyone one month to read this one particular book.
4: Let’s be real, I’m going to try to pick new/popular/relevant books every month, but I’m also going to pick books that speak to me. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them with me. I’m going to *try* and make the books different genres each month. I would love for us to read a variety of fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, chick lit, thrillers, etc this year. That’s the *goal*.
5: What are the rules of the book club? I know a lot of book clubs have rules and perhaps I’ll add some as we go, but basically, if you want to read along with us, we’d love to have you and on the 22nd we’ll dive a little deeper in the comment section here about that one particular book. Easy as that! That post is the one place where we’ll discuss the book so that all thoughts/opinions/questions/etc can be in one location.
6: In this blog post and in the comment section, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING SPOILERS. If you are interested in reading this book, you might not want to read below this line. In FEBRUARY’S BOOK REVIEW later this month, I will give a quick recap and let you know if I recommend the book or not, so if you haven’t read it, you might want to wait until that official BOOK REVIEW because there will be no spoilers and based on that, you can decide whether or not to read the book. Anything below this though will include spoilers as everyone commenting here has already read the book.
Make sense?
Here we go!
This month’s novel was…
…Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old by Brooke Shields
Um, so clearly I wasn’t a huge fan.
I actually don’t even have a lot of notes on this one. It was just kind of a dud for me. I wasn’t necessarily the biggest Brooke Shields fan before…and I’m not necessarily one after. It was just fine but not what I was hoping for. (Ironically, her ex-husband Andre Agassi wrote my very favorite memoir to date!)
Here are the few thoughts I had:
1: I selected this book because I was hoping it would be more on aging as a woman…there was a little bit of that in there, but I was really hoping for more “wellness” and less “now that I’m older, let me tell you what I think”.
2: I really loved the very unfortunate stories of her not having informed consent on a few medical issues. I mean, I hated that for her, but I was very happy she shared those extremely personal stories and how she advocated for all of us (especially women) to make sure we understand exactly what our doctors are doing/prescribing/how they’re treating us.
3: I thought her best stories involved being a mom. Those pages reminded me of Kelly Ripa’s book. The parenting part was really personal and intimate, and I found her very sincere and encouraging as I read those chapters.
I don’t know? This one won’t be really memorable for me. I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it, I just read it and kind of forgot it. I think she’s doing her part to encourage women as we age which I appreciated, but when it was all said and done, I couldn’t bring myself to give it more than two stars.
I’m excited about next month because it kicks off “spring break” season and what goes better with spring break than a thriller…
…The Crash by Freida McFadden.
I am buckled up and ready for the scary 😉 . I hope you join us as we read this thriller in March! Heads up, because the 22nd falls during our spring break, we will be having Book Club next month on March 25th.
Thank you so much for stopping by on a Saturday!
Please head to the comment section to share your thoughts on this book today!
Have the best weekend, friends! xx
Jennifer S. says
Book club day and your monthly book review day are my two favorite days of the month! I’ve found so many wonderful books over the last few years from your posts. I also love the honesty in what’s not your fave. Every book won’t be for every person. I haven’t read this one and likely won’t, but always love reading the reviews. I’d love to suggest The Booklover’s Library if you haven’t read it. It was wonderful!
Happy reading!!
Kristen Thompson says
I think 2 stars is a fair rating. This one was boring for me. I just honestly felt like telling her “I just really don’t care about this, sorry!” In many parts. I agree the stories about motherhood were the best parts but otherwise it was just so blah 😑
Kelly says
Hi, totally agree about the book. I felt like it was more about her desire to be seen and noticed among Hollywood stars and for her work, and feeling that being a mature woman now kept her out of that scene. I went into the book really hopeful it would share a lot ot tips about staying strong and connected etc. It fell short for me, too.
Elspeth Mizner says
I’m in the middle of reading this book now and I’m not a huge fan either. It’s good, but not great. Looking forward to next months pick!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Kelli says
I agree with your rating. After I finished it, I was trying to think what my positive feedback would be for book club, and it was definitely the section on empowering women to advocate for their own health. It makes me sad seeing so many people just accept whatever a doctor says without researching for themselves and getting second opinions for diagnoses that have the potential to change your life, for the positive or negative.
Now I did finish a book this week that sounds like something more up your alley on wellness and what you were after in this book! Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means…very similar stuff to Outlive, but more focused on our cells. It’s a shorter book with the highlights of Outlive, written very much where the non-medical person can understand it, and I love that it’s written by a woman so she has that unique perspective. I always love reading and understanding more about the medicine 3.0 outlook! Oh, I also loved that she focused a bit more on nutrition as Peter has said it’s his least favorite thing to talk about. Anyway, there’s my book rec for the month!
Mix and Match Mama says
That one is on my desk, but I need to read it ASAP because I love listening to the Means anytime they’re interviewed on podcasts (Casey and her brother). Thank you for reading along with us this month! xx
Karen says
Same with your review of Brooke’s book! I already read The Crash so I can’t wait until I get to hear he thoughts here!
Amy K. says
I feel the exact same way! I was actually turned off by how many times she mentioned her new company (and now I can’t even remember the name of it!) I was bored most of the time and just raced through to finish it.
Alison Mirasola says
Me too! I also wasn’t impressed by how much she swore. Didn’t feel like it was necessary
Can’t wait for next month!
Stephanie says
I totally agree on your rating ! I listened to it on audiobook ( Brooke narrates it ) and I didn’t love it. I felt like she used the f bomb waaaaay too much. ( do I need to hear that in an aging book ??!!). I’m grateful she advocated for herself but some of it was just way too much TMI in my opinion.
Michelle Bingham says
I just discovered a new to me author! I read and highly recommend Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney! I loved her incredible writing style so much that I am now on my third book of hers! You have got to check her out!
** this months book club book was not for me either**
Karah Stracener says
I just finished Beautiful Ugly and I agree. It was a great read. You should check it out Shay.
Mel says
I’m confused. “I couldn’t bring myself to give it two stars.” You gave it two stars.
Mix and Match Mama says
Sorry! I just edited it. It should say “more than two stars”.
Kay says
I liked this but I definitely think it is also a timing thing for me. I’m making some big changes at work, so the parts about taking risks, not believing your best is in the past, etc, really spoke to me!
I am SO excited that ‘The Crash’ is our next book! It’s been on my list and I can’t wait to read it. I sometimes read while I’m on my little treadmill, and when I’m reading a book by Freida (I’ve ready many) those steps FLY BY-lol!!!! Ditto when I’m watching Landman on my treadmill.
Penny says
Maybe you have always displayed or noted your “star” ratings, but I have only noticed or paid attention to them – that helps me more than anything. I did not suspect this would be a book I would personally enjoy and agree with your assessment regarding this autobiography. I have a lengthy list of TBR books you have have recommended. Thank-you!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh good! I just added them this month. I’m so glad you like them!
Amber Vance says
PHEW! I thought I was going to be the only one who didn’t care for this book. I agree with the motherhood stories being the best. I was glad when I finished it! Haha!! I’m excited for next month’s book!
Alison Mirasola says
💯
Tract says
I started it but haven’t been loving it so may not finish. I’m also reading Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle and it is really good. Thought it would be helpful as my daughter prepares to go to H.S. next year…
Erin says
Can’t wait to read this Frieda McFadden! Always keeps me on my toes!
Diana says
I could not even finish this book. Repetitive and boring!
Love the author for the next book—can’t wait to read!
Aubrey Hicks says
I also thought the book was a little boring/forgettable. I am turning 30 this year- so not exactly relatable, but was also hoping for more encouragement on the joys of aging.
Karen in Virginia says
I just called my local public library to get the crash and it has 203 holds on it! WOW! Everybody wants to read it. It sounds great!
Michelle H. says
I agree with the 2 star rating. I didn’t love the book. I felt the book was geared more towards mothers. If anything it made me sad because of having a child loss and not being to experience everything. I am looking forward to reading next month’s book.
Paula says
I saw her documentary and figured this wouldn’t be much better. I think Brooke Shields is “apart” of pop culture history but not the main topic. That is how this book read.
Next month…I hope is SOOOO good.
Mary says
I only made it a third of the way through the book and gave up. I just couldn’t get in to it.
I did just finish The Crash. Soo good!
Stacy says
I agree with your rating. I thought some of her stories seemed far fetched. And her photo on the cover was obviously photoshopped which undermines her message about natural aging. I did enjoy the parts about family and motherhood.
WhittyWife (Lindsay) says
I’m not overly familiar with Brooke Shields, so I elected to skip this book. But I LOVE Freida’s Housemaid series and am super excited to read The Crash! ☺️
Becky Carl says
I have read 10 Freida McFadden books and everyone of them has been the best books I’ve ever read. I also discovered Noelle Ilhi and they are also great. Ask For Andrea was mind blowing.
Dawn says
I thought it was ok but that’s about it.–I did appreciate that Brooke talked a lot about the same things I am going through at the same age. I wasn’t looking forward to reading it but am glad I did.
Addy Robinson says
I got this on audio because I like memoirs / biographies that are read by the authors who are in the acting / performance industry because they’re typically really good… Nope! I could not get into this. I actually abandoned it which is very rare for me and don’t know that I’ll revisit it. It was very dull and boring to me. On to the next one!