Book cover of Untamed

Book description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD! “Packed with incredible insight about what it means to be a woman today.”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club Pick)

In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, the activist, speaker, bestselling author, and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People) explores…

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Why read it?

17 authors picked Untamed as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Read it, bought it for all my friends, and read it again.

Glennon’s writing style is so disarmingly honest, raw, and powerful that it brought me to tears with its authenticity and relatability.

Full of personal stories about being a mother, being gay, leaving a marriage, recovering from addiction, unpacking religion, and being a sensitive human in a hard, messy world, Glennon weaves healing with radical permission in the most beautiful ways.

Poignant and timeless, this book was a sensation when it came out and still hits home with every turn of the page.

A favorite quote: “My emotions. My…

This memoir is a manifesto for any woman who’s ever felt trapped by others' expectations. Doyle breaks free from the ‘good girl’ narrative and shows us that true happiness comes from listening to our inner voice—not from chasing society’s version of ‘happily ever after.’

Her journey of self-discovery is both raw and empowering, just the kind of book I like to bury my face in.

From Deb's list on modern-day warrior princesses.

This book had a profound impact on me, largely because of Glennon Doyle’s fearless challenge to societal norms. Her journey to find her true self really resonated with me, especially as I navigated my own separation from my husband. Doyle’s focus on personal freedom and inner strength highlighted how important it is to live boldly and stay true to who you are.

Her insights inspire me to reflect on my own path, showing that vulnerability and courage during transitions can lead to deep personal growth and transformation. It reinforces my belief in the importance of living a life that truly…

From Mindy's list on being authentic and empowered.

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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Like the cry of a caged animal, this book reminds me that the systems in place aren’t working, but more than that, it points to the open cage door, offering me the option of a different way of living. It is a wake-up call and a deep, nuanced examination of what makes life worth living.

Glennon is not only a deep thinker but also quick as a whip; nothing escapes her. Her insights are priceless and sharp and cut through the densest of binds.

This book sits on my shelf as a daily reminder that my life is my own,…

When my husband left me, I was distraught and confused. I had done all I could to force myself into the box he built for me, to be the perfect wife and mother, and he still left. In the middle of my spiral of hurt and self-hate, a friend recommended this book to me, and I devoured it in a matter of days. 

In Untamed, Glennon—who also did all she could to be the perfect wife and mother before her ex-husband engaged in a string of affairs—argues for women to stop killing and abandoning themselves to win the love…

From Kaighla's list on remembering you’re 100% that bitch.

This book has zero to do with quitting the 9-5 and creating your dream life, but don’t let that put you off.

With more sass and sparkle than most books out there, Untamed is an unmissable addition to your future dream life.

From the get-go, I couldn’t put this book down and came away from it thoroughly inspired to shake off society’s expectations, wake up to what I really want, and live big. It gave me the shove I needed to realign my dreams and keep on working towards them.

This is a fabulous confident-boosting book; teeming with vulnerability,…

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Book cover of The Guardian of the Palace

The Guardian of the Palace by Steven J. Morris,

The Guardian of the Palace is the first novel in a modern fantasy series set in a New York City where magic is real—but hidden, suppressed, and dangerous when exposed.

When an ancient magic begins to leak into the world, a small group of unlikely allies is forced to act…

I read this book during the pandemic when book talks were off and my authors were pissed. (I’m a publishing consultant.) I needed a writing gal pal to help me find and use my outside voice when so many of us were literally stuck in place. Her badass attitude and clarion writing lifted me out of my seat and got me pacing the living room, with a drumbeat of questions in my ears. What is my truth? What is in the way of that truth? What’s my superpower and where’s my damn cape? Reading this book charged me up.…

Possibly an unlikely pick as Untamed doesn’t purport to be a spiritual book, but what is more spiritual than loving and accepting yourself? The moment you abandon yourself in favor of societal “ideals” or what other people expect of you is the moment you close the door to the life you came here to live. As a recovering Catholic, I also appreciate the way she invites readers to liberate themselves, without guilt or shame, from institutions and cultural norms that don’t support you. I listened to this on audio because Glennon’s signature sweet voice in my ear is like having…

Doyle is an excellent storyteller, and I found this memoir revealing and powerful as she explores the cost of striving to meet others’ expectations, something I could totally relate to. She begins the book with a metaphor, comparing the life of a caged cheetah with the lives of women who get caged into believing society’s truth about them instead of finding, and living, their own truth. I learned that I need to stop that behavior and start trusting the voice deep within me. This follows two other memoirs that she wrote: Love Warrior and Carry on, Warrior, which I…

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Book cover of Oaky With a Hint of Murder

Oaky With a Hint of Murder by Dawn Brotherton,

Aury and Scott travel to the Finger Lakes in New York’s wine country to get to the bottom of the mysterious happenings at the Songscape Winery. Disturbed furniture and curious noises are one thing, but when a customer winds up dead, it’s time to dig into the details and see…

Doyle describes her history with addiction and bulimia, though she does so from a place of stability. For example, she reflects on the trauma of her past, but her trauma is couched in her presently transformed existence. I related to this powerful story as it is not unlike my own journey—a story of convalescence, a burning desire to transcend the perils of mental illness and addiction. Doyle uncovers how both the personal, familial, and social constraints of her childhood, and indeed of her adulthood, had historically shaped and constrained her choices. In both Doyle’s story and my own, the reader…

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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

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