(Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy, all opinions are my own).

I was thrilled to get my hands on Emily P. Freeman's newest book. In a world of loud, often angry people, it is great to hear from a quieter soul who speaks lovingly and encouragingly. Her book is full of practical strategies that the reader can implement immediately.

Her book makes remarks on the decision making process that I continue to ruminate over such as: "We make better decisions by making decisions, not by thinking about making decisions." Freeman also gently nurtures the reader to listen to their own voice and God's voice, before turning to other voices, which is important to consider in this digital age.

For me, the most helpful question she posed is one I want to remember to consider the next time an opportunity comes before me: "If you were in a room of people and this was called out into the crowd, would you raise your hand to volunteer for this?"

Synopsis:

Whether we want to admit it or not, unmade decisions can cause a lot of turmoil and stress in our lives. In The Next Right Thing, Emily does her readers a great service by giving them practical ways to practice being better decision makers. A few chapter titles from the book include: "Know What You Want More," "Make a Most Important List," and "Be Where You Are." Each chapter begins with a brief story and/or guide post and ends with a prayer and a tip to actually put the aforementioned idea into practice. Within the book, Emily often repeats the phrase, "Do The Next Right Thing In Love" and encouragers her readers to make space for their souls to breathe.

My Thoughts:

I picked up this book thinking that I didn't really need it because I'm actually not too horrible at making decisions. I was aware that I do often get "decision fatigue" and I figured Emily would probably address that within the book's pages. I've been listening to Emily's podcast (also named The Next Right Thing) for a while now and it always helps me to take a much needed deep breath. I also have the privilege of attending church with Emily and getting to hear her read scripture which is like an opportunity to slow down and be present as well. So, all that to say, I decided that this book might be a good thing for me and I started reading.

I'm not exaggerating (something I tend to do just a little) when I say that I completely underestimated the truths that I would find within the pages of this book. As I read, it was almost as if Emily were speaking directly to me and helping me to see some things that I had pushed under the rug and refused to name.

These past few years have brought a lot of changes into my life. Typically, I'm pretty good with change, but there were A LOT of changes to navigate this time around. Here are some of the major ones:

I quit my job as a school librarian to become a stay-at-home mom. We bought our first home. My husband started his own business. I started my own business. My dad died. We had our second child. My husband's business grew a lot. My business grew a lot. My oldest became a very strong-willed 4 year old. My kids have been sick for what now feels like an eternity.

Even after I list them out, there is a battle going on in my mind about how much change that actually is. The dialogue goes something like, "Oh, that's not too bad. Some other people have way more stressors than that." What Emily helped me to realize is that naming things for what they are is really important. I failed to name these changes as hard things and was continuing on as I always had; trying to do all the things as I always have. I have learned so much about myself during these years of big changes and one of those things is that I feel responsibility for many things, some of which are not mine to be responsible for. I'm a stay-home-mom who has transitioned into having a business that I mostly run by myself (I did hire part-time help this year, praise). Emily shares a similar story about being a stay-at-home mom who is also a work-from-home writer and as I read the words on the page it was like a light bulb turned on and helped me see some of the things I had been ignoring, one being: I am no longer a stay-at-home mom. I am a mom who loves her kids dearly and wants to have a more flexible job so that I can be with them more, but I have a business that is a full time work-from-home gig. Y'all. This is huge. Just naming this truth has freed me up to see that my responsibilities have to change. I have added new things to my plate and therefore I must also take some things away. I can not, in fact, do all the things.

I could go on for pages about these aha moments that I experienced reading The Next Right Thing. I flew through the pages on my Kindle because I couldn't wait to see what Emily was going to say next. I am incredibly excited to get a hard copy on release day (April 2nd) so that I can sit down for a while with this beauty of a book and underline and mark up all the goodness found within its pages. Do yourself a favor and reserve a copy for yourself.

This book was excellent. I’ve always loved listening to the podcast because Emily always does such an amazing job directing us to the right place to make good God choices and the book is no different!

Emily P. Freeman's latest book, The Next Right Thing, brims with relevance, rhythm, and real hope.
Not merely for observing or ingesting, the message of this book calls the reader to enter, engage, and "do the next right thing in love" in the most personal, practical and sustainable ways.

As a committed listener to her podcast by the same name, I wondered if the stories would feel redundant.
They did not. In fact, while I recognized some as familiar, I felt like my own soul received them more thoughtfully … in my own pace. And even let them sink into a reflective space that honored my own desire to warm beyond a momentary awe to reign in my own rhythm to reflect my Hope more steadily, readily and sincerely in my every day world with my every day people.

The seamless pattern of each chapter - rich with relatability and a calling-onward - makes this an easy read alone, but also begs to be paired with a small circle of dear soul friends ready to sip, to share and to sing the fresh rhythm together.

Picking up The Next Right Thing is your next right thing. Emily is a trusted voice for both practical wisdom and heart-felt encouragement. If you're overwhelmed by a decision that needs to be made or you simply need a reminder on a soul-level that peace is possible, Emily's words are for you.

This book is not only for the chronically hesitant but also the anxious, the second guessers, and the questioners. Emily Freeman writes with such warmth and understanding, with gentle pushes and motherly wisdom. This book feels like having coffee with a friend. I will come back to this book again and again as decisions and choices arise.

It you love the podcast you will love the book. If you haven’t heard the podcast then this will be a great introduction. This book is wonderful. I love all the action items that I picked up to keep me going in the right direction.

For the past year I have been working through Emily P. Freeman's podcast. I was thrilled when I learned she would be coming out with a book on the same topic. I have often complained of decision fatigue and so her message really hits home for me. Emily has such a gift for helping to break down decision making into understandable pieces. I used to think of myself as capable of making quick decisions but lately, I've found myself wrestling with certain types of decision making situations. Some days, I'm just weary of the constant decision making of this stage of life! Emily's words were so soothing and comforting and exactly what I needed to hear. Her short chapters, everyday examples and relate-able style made me see the whys behind some of those areas that I was wrestling wit. I also love her prayers for each chapter and found her tasks doable. Half of me wanted to devour the entire book in one sitting and the other half of me wanted to savor a chapter a week because there is so much there to mull over. I have a feeling this will be a book I go back to often.

Even thought I am only about half way through the book, I loved it so much that I wanted to share an update so friends can take advantage of her pre-order specials. I don't make any commission on those sales but I do think think this is a book worth owning! I received an advance copy of this manuscript as part of the launch team, and was thrilled to start reading it before my own pre-ordered book was available. This is my own honest review of the materials.

Being an Enneagram 1, I have a very loud inner critic. I call her my inner hag. My inner hag uses a megaphone to remind me that my biggest weaknesses revolve around fear: fear of failure, fear of doing the wrong thing, fear of not being good enough, and fear of making the wrong decision.

In Emily P. Freeman’s latest book, she writes about how she was in an Uber with her bestie, and the driver told started to tell her a story about a difficult passenger she had driven. But instead of telling the two women about this passenger she said, “But we’re not going to give her words, ‘cause that’s exactly what she wants.’”

Each time I have tried to decide what my next right steps are, my inner hag bellows out all the reasons I’m choosing wrong: all the ways I can fail, all the things that might go wrong, and all the ways I’m going to disappoint not only myself but all those around me. It’s crippling and it keeps me from moving forward.

Emily’s book offers gentle and compassionate ways for you to consider what’s keeping you from making your next right step (and I resonate with almost all of them), as well as practical steps to help you to move forward.

This book came at a perfect time. I’m in a period of transition in my life, and my husband is getting ready to make a big decision that will impact our family in many ways. This is a book I will be reading again. Next time I’m going to go slower and take more notes. I highly recommend it.

I am just so excited to read Emily’s words of wisdom in her new book The Next Right Thing because this season of life I’m in had been full of decisions that seem hard for me to make, my mind feels cluttered and my soul feels stifled. Just listening to Emily’s podcast has helped me so much. I just knew when she announced this book that I had to have it, not so much for a self help book but for a soul care book, a book with gentle reminders that I’m not alone and there is a way to be guided back to healthy decision making.

Emily offers hope, she allows grace, she helps create space for our souls to breathe. She has done the work, walked the walk, wrote the words, but is still on the journey with the rest of us. I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy compliments of Netgalley and I believe with all my heart this is a book that we can all glean wisdom from.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher. I loved this book and am looking forward to reading it again. Emily is such a gentle soul and it comes through in her writing. I think my favorite chapters are finding a no mentor and waiting with hope. This book is well outlined and each chapter builds upon her framework for figuring out your next right thing. If you are looking for a better framework for making decisions, this is the book for you!

Emily P. Freeman's The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions are like words floating in your ear, whispering to your heart, asking you to trust yourself and to be your truest self as you make YOUR next right decision. As I read this book, it was as if Emily somehow had a window into my life and the patience to sit with me as I churned through all the thoughts in my head over and over again. This book couldn't have come at a more serendipitous time in my life -- and I know it will be a book I will be coming back to over and over again. Emily and her words are a gift to us all.

Reading "The Next Right Thing" was like discovering a new heart-friend and compassionate guide along this journey of life. Emily P. Freeman so beautifully helps her readers create space for thoughtful decision-making and needed soul care. The recommended practices at the end of each chapter are so timely for me in this season, and I know this is a book I'll pick up again and again. Reading this was like a cup of cold water for my thirsty spirit. Thank you, Emily!

I really loved this book. It's a simple easy read and full of wisdom. It is a great resource for those who struggle with indecisiveness or for people how have a big decision to make. Even if you aren't in a season of making decisions, this book is great for helping you become grounded in life. I love that a) this book has a Christian focus and I love how the book talks about listening to your soul and figuring out (along with prayer) what it is that you want in life. Great read.

This is a wonderful book, and I think I will be reading it over and over and over again.

It's perfect for someone who has a hard time making decisions, or even someone who just gets a lot of anxiety when it comes to making decisions.

It's perfect for just about everyone, really.

It's full of practical advice, encouragement, and focus.

Just like her podcast with the same name, Emily P. Freeman has a way with her words that get right to the heart of the matter.

It was easy to see what I was using as excuses and what I was really feeling about things when it came to looking at some decisions based on her thoughts.

I'm still processing all of this and I know I'll keep referring back to this book. It's just one of those that I will keep on hand for whenever I feel anxiety about a decision or I don't know how to figure out what I want to decide.

I knew I would love the book, "The Next Right Thing" since I love the podcast of the same name.

Some of the book is a repeat of the podcast but much of it is new content from author, Emily P Freeman.
Even though some is repeated it's still worth getting the book since the content is helpful and useful. Everyone has times of struggling with a decision and doing the next right thing is a smal, yet powerful step. Let Emily help you by getting yourself a copy of her newest book, "The Next Right Thing."

Emily writes encouraging words with wisdom that is applicable and practical. I love the prayers and the practice at the end of each chapter. I have highlighted so much of my copy!

Thank you to the publisher, Revell, for providing me a NetGalley advanced copy.

Whether you have a looming major decision or everyday life can just feel a little overwhelming, Emily P. Freeman's The Next Right Thing is the perfect way to create a little space. Each beautiful short chapter of this book felt like an existential exhale. Emily's words are so relatable and yet uniquely poignant. Without an obvious, huge decision on the horizon, I wasn't sure this book would be for me, but I absolutely adored every page.

I cannot express how timely it was that I read this book! I am a long-time listener of Emily’s podcast, and when I heard she was writing a book, I knew it would be good! Emily does exactly what she intends to do: she helps you make room for your soul to breathe and discern your next right thing in love. In this season of my life, full-time support raising for cross-cultural ministry, preparing for an international move, serving in various ways in my current community and church, I make a LOT of decisions. I feel so equipped to make better decisions and encouraged that the Lord uses them & remains in control after reading “The Next Right Thing.” It truly is a book for anyone who ever has, is, or will make a decision. So literally, it is a book for every single person.

I loved Emily’s short chapters, prayers, and practices for each chapter. Blue, orange, and yellow highlights color almost every page of my copy. When I feel weary, making decisions and feeling the fatigue, I know I will reach for Emily’s book again and again. You will, too.

There is something special about this book that makes you want to shove it into the hands of friends and look into their tired eyes and say this...this is your next right thing. Read it tonight. Emily has a distinct way of pulling you in, allowing you to see yourself clearly, and then gently turning you around in the right direction. The guidance inside will help you through tough decisions, for sure, but it will give you that motivation for your every day life as well. I love this book.

I received this book as part of a launch team. Review is my own.

Taking the time to pause and read Emily's latest book, The Next Right Thing, will be the best decision you make this year. She has a unique way of writing that whispers directly to your soul and this book is no exception. It's unputdownable-until-you're-finished-good.