There are two books I've read that I can truly and honestly say changed me. They changed the way I think and behave. The first one is He's Just Not That Into You which I read at a really pivotal point between high school and college. The second is Gifts of Imperfection, which I read after finishing my second year of teaching and right after getting married. I have always considered myself a perfectionist and then wondered why I have never been satisfied or happy with myself, despite working myself to death. I have so many favorite quotes from this book but one of the best for me is that 'exhaustion is not a status symbol.' Also, I have learned to be courageous about my feelings. I'm not weak just because I feel things so strongly, and hiding those feelings from people doesn't make me strong. It just makes me feel alone. We are all connected. I am so grateful for this book and I will probably read it every year.

Wish I could do 4.5 stars. Definitely not my favorite of the series. And boy was the beginning slooooow. And by beginning I mean the first half. But it had a solid, exciting ending and I'm excited to see what book 5 holds.

Listened to this one and loved it. Tina Fey is a hilarious person and I loved the balance between humor and reality in this book. She nailed it.

Easily one of the best books I've ever read. McBride doesn't write characters, she writes people. I don't know that I've read a book where the characters acknowledge so well their own failings but also their own successes. There is no good and bad in this world. There is just the world and the people in it all doing what they are capable of. Our lives shape us and lead us to decisions that can be great or terrible for others, but they were also caused by other great and terrible choices made by ourselves and others in the past. Does that make sense? In any case, I am so appreciative of this book that was hugely sad, hugely expressive, hugely refreshing, and hugely uplifting. Please read this book.

Loved reading about hiking and backpacking (the nuts and bolts and descriptions of the trail etc) in the same way that I loved Wild. Didn't (always) love his long tangents and anecdotes in the same way I didn't always like Strayed's tangents about her past. Overall a good book - surprisingly much more different than the movie than I thought.

Loved this addition to the story. Stephen is a very honest and good narrator.

Gobbled this one up and I'm dying to start book 2. Favorite Maureen Johnson work so far.

My favorite of the series so far! Action packed, exciting... All of the best parts of books 1 and 2 with so much more plot and adventure mixed in. Questions are answered, a few more are asked... Can't wait for book 4.

Loved getting to learn more about the squad and follow Rory as she struggled to regain a semblance of a life. Didn't love the seeming lack of cohesive plot. First it was about another ghost murder but then that was solved and there was still half a book left? It seemed too much like the whole novel was a set-up for book 3. But I'm excited to continue the series.

I FLEW through this book! There are books that you 'can't put down,' then there are books that you ACTUALLY CAN'T PUT DOWN. Every time I would get to the end of a chapter and think, okay I'll stop here today, I would see the first sentence on the next page and would be hooked in again. This book is so smart - it really makes you work your brain to understand some of the math and science, but it's great because it never makes you feel inadequate in your knowledge! Mark is laugh out loud funny and I am definitely going to see the film ASAP.