About the Book:
After losing her high-octane job as an entertainment blogger, Noelle Hancock was lost. About to turn twenty-nine, she’d spent her career writing about celebrities’ lives and had forgotten how to live her own. Unemployed and full of self-doubt, she had no idea what she wanted out of life. She feared change—in fact, she feared almost everything. Once confident and ambitious, she had become crippled by anxiety, lacking the courage required even to attend a dinner party—until inspiration struck one day in the form of a quote on a chalkboard in a coffee shop:
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Painfully timid as a child, Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated herself to facing her fears, a commitment that shaped the rest of her life. With Eleanor as her guide, Noelle spends the months leading up to her thirtieth birthday pursuing a “Year of Fear.” From shark diving to fighter pilot lessons, from tap dancing and stand-up comedy to confronting old boyfriends, her hilarious and harrowing adventures teach her about who she is, and what she can become—lessons she makes vital for all of us.
About the Author:
Noelle Hancock is a former staff writer for the New York Observer. She was the founding writer of Us Weekly‘s entertainment blog and helped launch the website for the popular gossip column “Page Six.” Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GQ, Blender, the New York Post, Maxim, Cosmopolitan, Page Six Magazine, Marie Claire U.K., Nymag.com, and Gawker, among other publications and websites. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Yale University. She lives in Manhattan with her parakeets, Jesus and Stuart. Her parents are still holding out for law school.
My Review:
I’m not a big memoir reader, but, every once in a great while, I come to one that absolutely calls to me before I ever open the book. Noelle Hancock’s is one. When I read the description of the book, I just knew that I had to read it. I knew it would be funny, yet deeply enlightening book about facing your fears. I’ve had a few fears that I wish I could have taken on the way Noelle did, that’s for sure. I mean, I’m sure everyone’s got some fear of something. Noelle’s book of how she tackled them will help you get through them!
I loved the writing style the Noelle used. It read so fast and easy like a fiction novel. It was entertaining in the way that she created her life story,after being laid off , and how Eleanor Roosevelt inspired her. She really pulled me into the heart of her work, and took me for a ride beside her! And, oh what a ride it was!
One quote was all it took to turn Noelle’s life into a whirl wind of challenge. Seeing the way it changed Noelle after her fear facing year, really made me think about my fears and whether or not I have TRULY faced any of them. And, the answer is no. I haven’t completely faced them at all. But, after this, I will definitely be making a list of my fears and working hard to face them all!
If you are a memoir lover, or someone looking for an inspiring and laugh out loud, un-put-downable book, then I HIGHLY recommend this fantastic 5 star book by Noelle! You’ll certainly be thinking about that one year challenge long after you’ve shut the book! Great job, Noelle!
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*This book was provided for review by the publisher and TLC Book Tours*
