Audiobook Review: You Do You By Sarah Knight

Blurb: From the ‘anti-guru’ author of the smash hit The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F–k and the New York Times best seller Get Your Sh*t Together.

In The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F–k, our favourite ‘anti-guru’ Sarah Knight unleashed the power of saying no. In Get Your Sh*t Together, she prioritised the sh*t you need and want to do so you can achieve your hopes and dreams. Now she’s back, doubling down on your happiness with her latest message: You Do You. 

Being yourself should be the easiest thing in the world. Yet instead of leaning in to who we are, we fight it, listening too closely to what society tells us. You Do You helps you shake off those expectations, say f–k perfect, start looking out for number one and keep on with your badass self. From career and finances to relationships and family, lifestyle and health, Sarah Knight rips up the rulebook. 

Writing about her mistakes and embarrassments in her own personal quest to ‘do me’ – because nobody gets everything right all day, every day – Sarah Knight shows why you can and should f–k up and teaches you to let yourself off the hook, bounce back and keep standing tall.

Review: Now why has it taken me this long to listen to this absolute treat. Sarah Knight would be someone that I would wholeheartedly have a pretty decent chat with, and that feeling comes across in spades in this book. She talks in a way that resonates with me and makes me feel seen and heard. Which is both ace and terrifying if that makes sense. It’s a truly no none sense listen in the approx 5 hours audio time. This is another self help listen that resonates and one that I could listen to again someday.

More often than not we have exactly what we need to be the best version of us, inside of us. You do you shakes the expectations and makes us think.

One quote that has stuck with me long after finishing this book is…. You’re good enough, smart enough and you care and have a lot to offer. It’s safe to say I have another of Sarah’s audios in my Libby library so watch this space….

Let’s talk Audio….Books, Podcasts and so on.

January was a predominantly audiobook month for me. Without even realising which is great as I’m taking part in #2024AudiobookChallenge with my target for the year to be 50 and I’ve listened to six in the first month.

As I’ve been feeling under the weather a friend mentioned meditation. I’ve tried mindfulness in a number of ways and it doesn’t always work for me. I decided to jump into bed and listen to an audiobook- instead I decided to listen to a Sleep episode on #Audible.

It was a seven min listen about tension that had me feeling relaxed and super sleepy. I had a really good sleep and didn’t wake until nearer six for a wee. I then went back to sleep until ten or just before. It really helped.

Last night I decided to try a different one…both made me sleepy although I think the first one relaxed me a little more. Although the second one was soothing and I definitely think I’ll check out more from Dr Nerina.

I’m currently listening to the Improbable Meet Cute and I believe I’m on the third short story of six.

Podcasts – The Well-being Lab from Will Young has been a favourite but there isn’t a series at present. And I’ve dipped in and out of Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place and the sleep episodes are classed as them. I really enjoy podcasts and would love to get into some more so hit me with some inspiration. I listened to some Running ones a while back to but haven’t in forever.

It’s Hump Day plus Cover Reveals and an update @ItsMeAnitaB @Heidi_Swain

Happy Hump Day all…for those of you who work the Monday to Friday, also for those of you just wishing this week away all is good. I’m not normally either really and today I will be chilling as yesterday I finally had my ear operation and nasal surgery. I’m doing ok, in some pain but I have some meds I can take now and painkillers and the other drops will happen once the bleeding stops. My sister was like did you take a hospital gown selfie but funnily enough I did not. Even before I felt worse for wear, up early, looked red as hospitals are mostly warm places.

I’m not usually one to be this type of blogger but it’s been such a long time since what I thought was an ear infection back in 2019. I won’t bore you with all the details. But I should be reading and blogging more as I have some time. Hoping to get some Disney Plus in whilst my niece is at school too…. I’m very much close to finishing Marple. For any fans of the actual Marple novels where should I start as I’m definitely wanting to.

As I turned my phone on last night I saw that Spurs Twitter was still a toxic mess but Book Twitter gave me all the feels. I may have reached out to gain a few more proofs to read and then I came across this cover reveal…

I’ve never read anything by this author but the cover just stood out to me so I had to share it today. I’ve just realised this is a debut that I will be reading this year. Watch this space.

I normally do the blurb first. But here it is.

Blurb: We’ve all had those moments. The ones where you look in the mirror and nothing feels ok. For Anita Bhagwandas, this started when she was a child and it created an enduring internal torment about her looks.

We’re all told that this is just part of growing up, but it stays with us, evolving as we age. The internet tells us we should love ourselves, whilst bombarding us with images of airbrushed perfection, upholding centuries-old beauty standards which we can’t always see. Our beauty rituals are so often based around things we think we need to fix, grow and develop – sometimes tipping into dangerous obsession.

So, what seismic shift does it take to break free from this mentality? In Ugly, Anita uncovers where these beauty standards started, unpicks why they’ve been perpetuated and unmasks the structures that continue to support them. From the ever-growing cosmetic surgery industry, to the hidden pitfalls of ‘pretty privilege’, it is time to finally break free from those limiting beauty standards, because feeling ugly should have nothing to do with how we look, and everything to do with who wants us to feel lacking.

This sounds to me like a powerful debut and this is released in February and can be pre-ordered now.

The other day when I shared Victoria Walters latest cover reveal this next one popped up and I’ve been meaning to share it.

Heidi Swain is another go to author and her standalone novel The Book Lovers Retreat looks fantastic.

Blurb: One long summer. One perfect setting. Can fiction inspire real life…?

Sometimes a book grabs you by the heart and grows to mean everything to you. That’s what Hope Falls is to friends Emily, Rachel and Tori. So, when they get the chance to spend a whole summer at the cottage in Lakeside where the film adaptation was located, they know it is going to be the holiday of a lifetime.
Spending six weeks away will give them a chance to re-evaluate their life choices. For Emily to decide which way her career will go – the safe route, or the more risky creative option? And for Rachel to decide whether to move in with her partner Jeremy. Then Tori has to drop out at the last moment, and her space is offered to another Hope Falls afficionado, Alex.
But when Alex turns out not to be who they expected, the holiday takes an unforeseen turn. And as the summer develops, so does their friendship. Could this be where they uncover their future selves, find love in all its forms and where their lives will change course forever…?

Well that’s all from me for today…I am hoping to do a Throwback Thursday tomorrow do let me know what sort of thing you hope to see. Until next time…

Will Young: An icon and an inspiration…

Back in 2002 I along with the rest of the world first discovered Will Young thanks to Pop Idol. Little did I know how much of an inspiration he would become in 2022.

When I first saw Will he blew me away, a breathe of fresh air and as soon as he sang that was it. I was instantly in awe and wholeheartedly a fan. My sister was Team Gareth but from day one I was all Will. Hearing him sing tracks like ‘Light My Fire’ left me with goosebumps and eager for more.

In a career that’s seen him sing and act in films as well as on the West End you would think he had it all. Will has suffered terrible sadness and in that sadness he’s created ‘The Well-being Lab’ a podcast that’s focussed on so many issues that effect each and everyone of us on a daily basis from Insomnia to obsessive compulsive disorders. Sharing information by speaking to various people.

I’ve found every episode enlightening even if it’s not something that’s troubled me it’s still taught me something new. Alongside learning something it’s so soothing to just listen to Will. I’ve listened to a few of these podcasts whilst on my run. I loved hearing Will read my message out that sure did spur on the end of my run to do more and better.

Last week his documentary aired on channel 4 Losing My Twin. This was a heartbreaking watch but I adore the fact he’s channeling his sadness to spread awareness and to help others. That’s such a powerful thing to be able to do and as much as I felt sad and had tears I feel what Will is trying to do will make a difference to many others. I’m an auntie to twins and every single day I’m in awe of the bond they share.

Sometimes just knowing that others are going through the same thing and in knowing where to look for help will make such a difference to peoples lives.

Will has also just released a self help type book called Be Your Self and Happier the A-Z of Wellbeing. I pre-ordered this and hope to start reading it this weekend.

In a nutshell I adore Will Young and I’m proud of all he’s achieving…