Jessica N. Turner

I once had a boss who said the way to measure whether or not it had been worth going to a conference was if at the end you walked away with even just one really good idea to put into practice. That's how I'll measure "The Fringe Hours."

The premise of the book centers on the notion that mothers MUST make time for their own pursuits and self-care, lest they completely burn-out. For some people this might be a revelation, but most of my contemporaries (and their partners) are on-board with this show more philosophy. Turner addresses the need to let go of perfectionism, why you can't say "yes" to every volunteer request that comes your way, why you need to "good-bye" to guilt, etc. She talks about different seasons of life, and the legitimacy of paying or bartering for help in order to free up time (without feeling guilty about it).

We each have our strengths, and areas where we could use help. Turner admittedly has a messy kitchen, but loves planning birthday parties for her kids. My kitchen is clean, but the thought of planning an at-home birthday party for my kids gives me nightmares! Thankfully, Turner's book offers plenty of suggestions across the spectrum no matter where your "challenge spot" might be. This meets my "one good idea" threshold and made it a worthwhile (and quick) read for me. show less

The Fringe Hours describes itself as being a book that teaches women how to get rid of the guilt and find the time to pursue their own passions. Although I enjoyed this book and certainly found some useful tools that I can implement into my life, I didn’t love it; it was only ok for me. I was really hoping for something truly refreshing, one of those “Ah Ha!” moments where I say to myself “that’s what I’ve been doing wrong all these years!” and “this is what I need to do to show more change that behavior” and unfortunately, I just didn’t get that. I do like Jessica Turner’s concept of taking and using the hours and minutes that are on the edges of our life, rather than just reorganizing the scheduled time we already have. But beyond that, most of what I read wasn’t anything new, at least not to me. I was also expecting this book to be one that was universal to all women and mothers, from all backgrounds, but there was a distinct religious undertone right from the start. This didn’t bother me, but I was surprised as there was no mention of this in the book’s description. I can see where some people would be bothered and turned off by this.

Although it’s not groundbreaking in content, The Fringe Hours is well written and does offer its readers some very practical, sound advice. You can tell that author, Jessica Turner, is very passionate about what she writes and her belief in a guilt free life is one we can all aspire for. I certainly have friends that I will recommend this book too; however, I will be selective in my recommendations as this book’s underlying religious tones are not for everyone.

**I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the publisher, Revell and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review** show less

Stretched Too Thin is the “self-help” book every female needs! I don’t care if you are a mother or childless, spouse or single, home owner or living with your parents - Turner offers sage advice, relatable experiences and achievable solutions. From friendship to self-care, work, parenting and home every page had me nodding my head in agreement and jotting down notes for positive changes to make in my own life. Anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed or guilty will relate to this book.

As show more a working female, or adult in general, I often feel overwhelmed in all that needs to be accomplished and the minimal hours in my day. I feel frustrated that many of the books I read on overwhelmed feelings offer stories with no solutions or workable advice. Stretched Too Thin provides relatable experiences and attainable action items to better yourself. It also provides important reminders that every human needs to hear again and again. Each chapter wraps up with several pages of prompts and activities to help the reader both become self-aware and resolve the concepts broached in each chapter.

This is absolutely a book I will be picking up again and again! For any female, mother, adult or employee, do yourself a favor and read this book.

For the full review visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/

*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher; all opinions are my own. show less

A fitting self-help novel to round out my hellish year. I can’t say I learned much, as it is very much geared towards working mothers of younger children, and I am not that. It did confirm some things about my work situation about which I was already taking action. I found most of what Ms. Turner has to say as nothing more than common sense, but sometimes you need to hear it from someone else. Being a working mother is difficult, and if this is a book that can help you, then I suggest you show more read it for the chance to assess your values and goals and find ways to make motherhood a bit easier. show less